LE BOUCHER (THE BUTCHER)
France, 1969, 94 minutes, Colour.
Stephane Audran, Jean Yanne.
Directed by Claude Chabrol.
The Butcher is an excellently made psychological suspense drama, not in the sense of dramatic events which have audiences breathlessly on the edge of their seats; rather a country town setting is beautifully established, characters well communicated and then the murder situation introduced. We are asked to understand the plight of a murderer, be aware of our sense of revulsion as well as our sense of compassion. Director, Claude Chabrol, has been exploring guilt and responsibility for several years. This straightforward film contains the essence of his style and themes. Jean Yanne is the butcher and Mrs Chabrol, Stephane Audran, is again the star of Chabrol's film.
1. The overtones of the title and audience response to it? Did this predispose the audience to its response to the film?
2. A suspense crime drama or a personal drama about conscience? How would you describe the film? Why?
3. The film was dedicated to the town. How well was the town filmed: in detail, colour, its appearances? The impact of the reality of the town on the audience? The influence of the town and its people on the story? How was the town itself a character in the film? The way it was filmed, especially from the distance?
4. How successful was the wedding sequence to open this film? The town and its people in ordinary joy? The detail of the wedding? The role of the butcher and his supplying the meat? The introduction of the characters? How well did the film transform this atmosphere of joy into an atmosphere of death and sadness at the end? How well did the film work on its audience's emotions.
5. How did the film focus on Helene as the central character? How attractive a character was she? How well were the audience meant to identify with her? As heroine? As teacher in the town and liked? As loved by the butcher? And then her sympathies and conscience being tested? How successful a device for this film was this?
6. How attractive a person was the butcher? As presented at the wedding? His explanation of his background, especially his father, being a butcher's son, his work as a butcher, his fifteen years in the army, being used to bloodshed etc.? What effect had this on him? How well did we get to know him? Appreciate him as a person? Were you glad that he loved Helene? Why?
7. How well was this love portrayed in the film? Which sequences and their detail best illustrated this? How did this give a complexity and depth to his real character?
8. How well did the film communicate the impact of the murders? Its gradual revelation? The sequence of the child and the dripping blood? What was your response to seeing the dead bodies and the ghastliness of the murder?
9. The importance of Helene taking the cigarette lighter? What decision did she make at this time? Should she have revealed this to the Police? Did she become an accomplice because she kept the lighter? why was she so afraid, then, of the butcher?
10. How interestingly were the police presented? The inspector and his questioning of Helene at the school? were the police an important part of the film? Or were they just there in the background?
11. How suspenseful was the climax of the film? Helene's fear when she discovered that he had taken the lighter? The closing of the house and the school? The butcher wanting to get in? And his final getting in? How successful in terms of suspense films was all this?
12. Were you surprised at his guilt? At his killing himself? Did he have any alternative? How sorry for him were you? Why had he committed the murders? What was your response to Helene's driving him round and round and letting him die? Was this morally justified? Why? Did you agree with her kissing him? Why should she have kissed him? The role of compassion and horror? The symbolism of the lift and the red light?
13. How was the end significant for the audience? Helene's looking out and meditating on what had happened? The film's asking us to do the same? We had identified with her, had understood someone, had not understood this person, and were asked to ask ourselves our reactions and questions of conscience?
14. What insights into guilt, conscience, responsibility did the film offer?
