BLANCHE COMME NEIGE/PURE AS SNOW

France, 2019, 112 minutes, Colour.
Lou de Laage, Isabelle Huppert, Charles Berling, Richard Frechette, Damien Bonnard, Jonathan Cohen, Vincent Macaigne, Pablo Pauly, Benoit Poelvoorde.
Directed by Anne Fontaine.


Something of a 21st century fairy tale, Snow White in particular, a rather free-wheeling Snow White (Claire – light) who relates to seven men with passion (frequently sexual), her seven admirers (not exactly dwarfs).

The first part of the film is entitled, Claire. She is one of those luminous screen presences, played by Lou de Laage. She works in a hotel owned by her stepmother, Maud (Isabelle Huppert). Her life seems to have humdrum meaning. She is a jogger and is abducted while jogging. After an unexpected car crash, she is about to be killed but is rescued by a local farmer who has a twin brother. Initially suspicious, they care for her, as does their border, a reclusive cello player, and the local vet. She also encounters an eccentric bookseller and his martial arts trainer son.

Each in his own way seems to bring her alive, she becoming more freewheeling, passionate, sexual (this treated in a quite frank French way). Her life changes. So does that of the men though most of them while responding to her are also confused.

There is quite a lot of beautiful scenery, alpine mountain scenery, winding roads in fog and in sunlight.

Meanwhile, the second part of the film focuses on Maud. She is obviously the jealous stepmother, frequently looking in the mirror, attention to her make up. Eventually, she will take the opportunity to try to kill Claire, even with a poisoned apple.

There is a particular interest for audiences in the presence of the Catholic priest. The Catholic themes are unexpected. A south-eastern France setting, in the Alps and the Marian apparition shrine of La Salette. But, more unexpectedly, one of the ‘dwarfs’ is a priest.

And, also unexpectedly, this is a very sympathetic and understanding portrait of a middle-aged French priest. He is seen at first in a bookshop, clerical collar, owned by an atheist friend, encountering Claire, chatting in a friendly manner. He rides a motorbike and gives Claire a lift to the shrine. He is a mature man, an understanding man, showing Claire the shrine, not surprised by what she tells him of her sexual encounters. And, she surprises herself by feeling free and comfortable with him, almost immediately, to unburden herself to him. She is frank and direct. He reassures her indicating the wide range of sin that he is told. He also quotes Jesus’ words of not judging. He is shown to be exactly what a good man, a celibate priest, ought to be like.

His ministry extends to meeting Claire’s stepmother, Maude, the evil, jealous, murderous stepmother. She feels comfortable with him as he welcomes her to the shrine, talking openly and personably. She has malevolent intentions in meeting Claire. The priest, not knowing this, is able to find an opportunity to bring Maud and the unsuspecting Claire together.

At the end, Claire lying in hospital after Maud’s attack on her, the seven men come to her bedside, some kissing her, others respectfully touching her. The priest simply signs the cross on her forehead.

Quite a sympathetic picture of a priest (especially in the era of widespread clerical abuse).

1. The title? Snow White? The jealous stepmother? The seven dwarfs?

2. The familiar fairytale? 21st-century interpretation? In a French context? In a frank French style?

3. The strong cast? The younger woman, luminous? The older woman, malevolent? The range of men, the responses to Claire?

4. The French city setting, the hotel, the countryside and jogging? The beautiful Alpine scenery, the winding roads and mountains? The village, houses, that, bookshop, cafe? The shrine of La Salette? Exteriors, interiors, cloisters, Chapel?

5. The introduction to Claire, her age, relationship with her stepmother, her dead father? Her mother’s new partner and the attraction? Her work? Her jogging? The abduction, in the boot of the car? The mountain roads? The crash? Running through the forest, the driver catching up with her, the gun? The assassin being shot? Claire rescued by Pierre? Taken to the house, coming to consciousness, peer washing her clothes, caring for her? No police, his past time in jail? His twin brother, François, and his stammer?

6. The introduction to Vincent, bringing her the meal, his story, the studious and hypochondriac, his music, the cello, avoiding Grenoble? His dog? Going to the vet? The introduction to Sam? The treatment of the dog? Sam’s return to the house?

7. Claire in the town, at the bookshop, Charles, his eccentricity, his friendship with the priest? The discussions? The encounters with Charles, his advances, but wanting to be correct? The introduction to his son, Clement, his shyness, martial arts, reticence with Claire?

8. Getting the job, working at the cafe, encountering Charles and his son, encounters with Sam? Life in the town, the dances and clears exuberance? Dancing with Sam, the date, the intruder on the dance, Clement and his martial arts?

9. The sexual encounters, her passion, with Pierre, the secrecy with François, the time with Sam, Clement that his reticence – and the later lyrical encounter in the forest?

10. The portrait of the priest, middle-aged, the shrine, what a priest should be like? The motor bike, giving Claire the ride, showing her the shrine, her confiding in him, his not judging, his telling her that he has heard many scenes? Maud, her going to the shrine, the welcomed by the priest, their discussions, arranging for a meeting between Maud and Claire?

11. Maud, looking in the mirror, the wicked stepmother, vanity, the relationship with Bernard? The tensions? Separation? The influence of Claire? Claire and her phone calls and her hanging up?

12. Her driving to meet Claire, the priest and the shrine, the encounter with Claire? Friendship, discussions? Her observing? Surprised at Claire’s passion? He’ll intentions, the social, putting the poison in the apple? The picnic? Claire giving the apple away, Maud’s frustration? The poison in the drinks? Claire’s collapse, in the car, pushing her over the cliff? Maud against the shrine, prayer, lighting the candle? Her scarf catching Fire and her death?

13. Clare, the rescue, in hospital, the seven men, those who kissed her, those who touched her, the priest signing the cross on her forehead?

14. The light? Claire did or alive?

15. Ocean of the classic fairytale?