L’OMBRE DU MONT- ST- MICHEL/ SHADOW OF MONT ST MICHEL

France 2010. 90 minutes, Colour.
Claire Borotra, Serge Hazanavicius, Thomas Jouannet.
Directed by Klaus Biedermann.

The Shadow of Mont St Michel is a telemovie, a murder mystery. Because it is set under the shadow of the famous monastery, cut off at times from the Normandy coast by the tides, it has become a celebrated tourist centre as well as religious centre. The continual presence of the monastery is striking, filmed at various times of the day and from various angles, the exteriors and interiors. It is certainly an attraction for tourists who watch the film.

The murder mystery seems to have all kinds of psychological repercussions with a touch of the supernatural. This is played out for most of the film – but, ultimately, it becomes a rather simple and tawdry resolution.

The film focuses on two sisters who visit Mont Saint Michel after the death of their mother. The younger sister imagines that the local mayor is her father, becomes jealous of his actual daughter. When the mayor’s daughter is found dead, suspicions are on the young woman. However, her sister (who is revealed finally as her mother) wants to prove her innocence. Two friends from her school days are on the island, one a guide, the other a doctor. The doctor comes under suspicion – especially when a rather sinister monk is also murdered. However, the death is ultimately revealed as an accident with an approach to the young woman by the guide. This makes the film more of a time passer than a serious psychological drama.

1. A film of psychology relationships? The mystery?

2. The settings, the island, the monastery, imposing beautiful, its size, dominating the countryside and the sea? The use of the monastery throughout the film? Elise’s question? Score?

3. The opening, Elise going into the water – and 30 minutes later its being shown something of a red herring?

4. Elise and Audrey? Their mothers death? Audrey and her memories of her mother being pushed the staircase the argument about who was her father? This haunting Audrey? Especially in the monastery, in the light coming from the sky – in the meeting of the cosmos with vibrations of the universe, the reality of what happened, the accidental death of her mother? Audiences believing this or not? Audrey and the revelation about the mayor, his not being her father?

5. Audrey as a character, withdrawn, struck by lightning, the hospital, amnesia? Her wanting to get away in the truck? Elise bringing her back to the centre of the street, remembering the truth? Under suspicion?

6. Elise, the background, growing up in Mont St Michel, friendship with Yann and Romain? Studies, leaving? An interpreter? Her return – and the truth about her relationship with Romain? Her being the mother of Audrey?

7. Yann, his wife, friendly, right? The tour of the monastery? His concern, help? The revelation that he had killed the young woman? The accident? The medal and the clue? Planting it? The death of the monk?

8. Romain, doctor, in love with Elise? Her leaving? The return, the relationship? His being under suspicion? The revelation of the truth?

9. The Mayor, his friendship with the girl’s mother, the implication that he was Audrey’s father? Not the truth? His own daughter, his concern, the death? His grief?

10. The daughter, friendship with Audrey, going out together, her death? The attack? The revelation of what really happened? Their trying to help Audrey?

11. The monk, his talk about the cosmos and the vibes? The medal? Confronted by Elise? His death? The police inspector, suspicions, doing his job, interrogations?

12. The melodramatic ending, two of the monastery? Yann and Audrey, the threats? Romain and his wanting to rescue the women? Audrey falling over the parapet, Elise reaching out, Romain bringing her to safety? And the happy ending?