ONE DEADLY SUMMER / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR: JEAN BECKER / SCREENPLAY: JEAN BECKER & SEBASTIEN JAPRISOT / STARRING: ISABELLE ADJANI, ALAIN SOUCHON, SUZANNE FLON / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Based on the novel of the same name, One Deadly Summer is a French film that found much success at the Cesar Awards back in 1984. There’s plenty here for fans of French cinema to enjoy, although one can’t help but think that, with a running time of just over two hours, it unfortunately overstays its welcome.
Directed by Jean Becker and starring Isabelle Adjani, One Deadly Summer is a hard film to define as it deals with an amalgamation of genres ranging from melancholic drama to rape-revenge fantasy. Perhaps better described as an erotic thriller, there are times when the story occasionally stutters, which is a shame as what could have been a tightly woven tale of mystery and revenge ends up feeling rather clunky and chaotic.
So what’s it all about? Well, shortly after moving to a small French village with her mother and sick father, Elle Wieck manages to get the whole town talking thanks to her provocative and carefree nature. Strutting around and setting the locals afire with lust and gossip, she attracts the attention of Pin-Pon, a quiet mechanic who has grown obsessed with the young and beautiful newcomer. After forming a relationship and getting married, it soon becomes apparent that Elle is holding a dark secret from her past as she begins to manipulate not just the men in her life but the events that surround her.
The direction, for the most part, is beautifully handled, however there are times when the performances become tonally erratic. Isabelle Adjani portrays the elusive Elle with an almost feverish frenzy whilst other times playing the femme fatale to devilish delight. Then there’s Alain Souchon’s calm and collected Pin-Pon who meanders through the film with the occasional uncharacteristic outburst of violence. One does get the sense that the film is following the book very closely, although it ends up being to its detriment as the pacing gradually suffers. Whether it be Elle’s eventual descent into madness or Pin-Pon’s paranoia, the film’s main narrative is robbed the emotional punch due to the constant juggling of its characters’ turmoils. The mystery behind Elle’s dark secret at times feels as if it’s put on the back burner and not delved into until the latter stages of the film, which is a shame considering how it all ultimately unfolds.
Fans of Isabelle Adjani will have plenty to feast their eyes on, and those who enjoy slow-burners may get something out of the plot which has more twists and turns than one might expect. Admittedly, there are times when the film feels uneven and some may get more enjoyment from just reading the actual novel, but CultFilms has done a great job at restoring this forgotten French classic. It may not have aged as well as other films from the past but there’s still a nostalgic charm that may attract admirers of French cinema. One Deadly Summer might not be for everyone, but those looking for a solid leading performance by Isabelle Adjani will not be disappointed.
Special Features: 2k scan and restoration, High definition Blu-ray (1080p) and standard definition DVD presentations, Interview with director Jean Becker (28 mins), Documentary on the author of the original novel – screenwriter Sebastien Japrisot – known as the Graham Greene of France (43 mins), New improved English subtitles.
