THERESE DESQUEYROUX

France, 2012, 110 minutes, Colour.
Audrey Tautou, Gilles Lellouche, Anais Demoustier.
Directed by Claude Miller.

Celebrated French author, Francois Mauriac’s 1927 novel was brought to the screen in 1962 in a black and white version, directed by Georges Franju, with Emmanuelle Riva ( who had come to attention in the late 1950s, early 1960s in Hiroshima, Mon Amour and Leon Morin, Pretre, and who was Oscar-nominated in 2012 as Best Actress for Amour) and Philippe Noiret.

This new version, fifty years later, is in colour and has two of France’s most famous contemporary actors, Audrey Tautou and Gilles Lellouche. Audrey Tautou is best-known for her fey Amelie. She is far more serious here, barely smiling throughout the whole film. Gilles Lellouche has the advantage of being able to immerse himself in quite a range of films and characters.

The setting has been changed by some years to the late 1920s. It is rural France on the coast, mansions built among pine forests. The film looks the part and period, creating a very French atmosphere.

Therese Desqueyroux is in the vein of the novels by Balzac, Zola and Flaubert. It focuses on a woman who finds herself living in the wrong place and the wrong time. She reads, is introspective and wants order in her life. It is expected that she marries a local, wealthy forest-owner. And she does. It is clear from the start, with her self-preoccupied gloom and his gung-ho attitude towards life, towards hunting, towards business and towards marriage, that the marriage is bound to fail.

On paper the plot can sound melodramatic as Bernard Desqueroux, a touch of hypochondria spoiling his outgoing zest, is prescribed arsenic drops. Arsenic drops are always meant as means for death. Since this is a rather low-key treatment of characters in a society where what people think and say is far more important than basic moral issues, there is no real blow-up about Bernard and his illness. Rather, stories are invented to save face.

Therese intervenes in the life of her childhood friend, and Bernard’s sister, Anne, when she becomes infatuated with a local young man from a Portugese-Jewish? family (revealing the underlying anti-Semitism in French society) and loses Anne’s friendship. Confined to her house, Therese pines away, her life becoming more squalid as she neglects herself.

Clearly, the novel and film are studies of individuals trapped, willingly or unwillingly, in their lives and circumstances, especially women who are confined by patriarchal expectations. Novel and film are also studies of narrow societies, preoccupied with business success and their reputations.

The treatment is measured, not hurried, giving the audience time to watch, reflect and test their emotional and moral responses to the characters, especially Therese. This was the final film by prominent French director, Claude Miller.

1. The classic novel by Francois Mauriac? The 19th century French tradition of novels? Provincial life, families, reputations? The wealthy, bourgeoisie? Women and their freedom, confined? Patriarchal society? In the early 20th century?

2. The re-creation of the era, the mansions, the towns, the pharmacy? The musical score?

3. The countryside, the estates, the pine forests, the coast? The boats and sailing?

4. The title, the focus on Therese? In herself? As part of the Desqueyroux family? Its name and repute? In relationship to Bernard?

5. Anne and Therese as teenage girls, the bike ride, energy, exhilaration and laughter, washing, drinking the water, seeing Jean and his sailing? The kitchen rebuke? Anne, hunting, the gun, twisting the birds neck? Not wanting to read, too boring? Not coming every day to see Therese? If Therese and her dependence on Anne? Her love of reading, being alone? The presumption about her marriage to Bernard?

6. Therese older, preparation for the marriage, the scenes with Bernard? The discussion about the pine Therese she owned, his? Enough for the marriage? The issue of love? Bernard and his energy, family tradition, expectations? How successful a couple?

7. Therese, her relationship with her father, her mother’s death, the in-laws?

8. The wedding, the ceremony? The honeymoon, the consummation? At the spa? The letters, return home? Therese pregnant?

9. Anne, her letters, seeing Jean, the boat, infatuated with him, falling in love? Bernard and his mother and her letter, condemning the relationship? Anne outpouring her feelings to Therese? Treatment on the return? Anne secluded? Therese visiting Jean, talking with him, bonding with him, urging the break-up? Jean and his not wanting to continue the relationship? The hints and comments about the family being Jewish, Portuguese, the underlying anti-Semitism? The decision that Jean would write the letter, reading it to Therese? Therese and her sensitivity, yet jealousy? Anne and her reaction? Suspecting Therese’s involvement with the letter? Hostility told Therese?

10. Therese, introspective, her comments about thinking, and wanting order in her life, but not succeeding? Her constant smoking? Daily life, routines, interactions with the in-laws, with her father? Bernard, active, going hunting, his health and concern, collapses? Going to the doctor, his relief, the prescription for arsenic? His counting the drops aloud, irritating Therese?

11. The film indicating times and months? The birth of the baby? Therese not attached to her daughter? The issue of suckling? Anne and her care for the baby?

12. The fires, the cause, the glass and the sunlight, Therese watching, come? Observing? The fire engines? The fighting on the fires? The wins and change of direction? Bernard and his concern, the losses, the importance of his arsenic drops?

13. Therese, the prescription, going to the pharmacy? Bernard sick, vomiting, Therese and her continued care? The role of the doctor? Getting the specialist?

14. Suspicions of Therese, charges, not being allowed to see Bernard, her father’s anger, issues of reputation? the in-laws and the hostility? Fearing gossip?

15. The invention of stories, Bernard and his collaboration, the farmer allegedly wanting the prescription, Therese and compassion, the forgery, testifying before the judge, Therese and the judge, Bernard and the judge, her being freed?

16. Therese being confined, her aunt and her niceness to her? The servants, the way Therese had treated them in the past? The husband and his suspicions? The wife and her finally helping? The funeral of the aunt, the importance of Therese being seen with Bernard?

17. Living in squalor, the maid and her help, food, going for walks? Becoming weaker, the visit of Anne and her fiancé (and his comments on the house)? The makeup and her looking painted? Bernard and Therese talking? The limits?

18. Bernard allowing her to go to Paris, freedom, talking with Bernard at the restaurant, his reasons?

19. Her walking free?

20. A picture of French Society, the 1920s and thirties? The issues and time?