THE ORIGIN OF EVIL

France, 2022, 123 minutes, Colour.

Laure Calamy, Doria Tillier, Dominique Blanc, Jacques Weber, Suzanne Clement, Veronique Ruggia.

Directed by Sebastien Marnier.

This is one of those films that it is better to know very little or even nothing about it before seeing it. Which makes it very difficult to review, references to characters and plot. However, the advertising tagline states: Wickedly Comic French Thriller. And that is a way into a review without spoilers.

First, a comment on the title. While it is popularly are said that money is the root of all evil, the Scriptures actually say the love of money is the root of all evil. Love of money doesn’t necessarily say that one has money but rather money is the most desirable thing in life. And the Scriptures also say that Satan, the devil, in his evil is the father of lies. To that extent, the title is very relevant.

With love of money and lies at the centre of the film, the tagline is quite correct, we see quite a lot of wickedness, especially under what seem to be respectable surfaces.

The tagline also says comic, wickedly comic. But, this will very much depend on your sense of humour, and identification or not with the Gallic sense of humour. There are more than enough if he situations, some touches of farce, especially one character who has a mansion fall of years of expensive goods from Shopping Channels, spend a holiday! And, ultimately, quite a lot of irony.

So, response will depend on our liking for French cinema, especially for the actress, Laura Academy (Full Time, in the Ardennes) who certainly demands all our attention.

And, because the plot contains quite a number of elements of crime, deceit and danger, there are the thriller elements.

And, if this sounds interesting, enticing, there is a great deal to enjoy – this reviewer would have liked a couple of more minutes at the end. The film does leave it up to ourselves to make judgements and speculate as to what will happen, but there could have been some suggestions more! And, tantalisingly during the credits close-ups of a lot of those shopping channels purchases

1. The title, traditionally money, love of money is root of evil? Satan as father of lies?
2. The film described as both comic and thrilling?
3. The story of Nathalie, with the audience meeting her as Stephane? At her apartment, landlady and affection, the daughter returning, her leaving, going to her friend Leila, working at canning the anchovies, the prison background, her phone call to Serge, hesitancy, second phone call, contact, the story of her mother, abandoned, seeking out Serge, revealing herself, his response, coming to the house, the encounter with Louise, the hostility of George, the daughter and her photographs, Agnes as stern? Her amazement at the house, warned not to come back, the private boat, her continued returns?
4. The revelation at the middle of the film, the real Stephane, the lesbian relationship, Stephane in jail, murder of a lover, the mutual dependence? And the realisation what Nathalie was doing?
5. The second half of the film, looking at Nathalie/Stephane differently, ingratiating herself, Serge becoming dependent, Louise becoming more friendly, the issue of Serge and his competence, Serge and his visit to Nathalie in the bath, the preparation for the testimony, his outbursts of rage? Anti-Semitic? Homophobic and his son?
6. The preparation for the court case, Nathalie ingratiating herself with Serge, discovering Agnes and his stealing, Serge revealing this to the group, wanting the cottage for Nathalie, ousting Agnes, the hearing, Nathalie and her testimony, repeating the line that Serge had prepared, her change of tone, the revelations? Serge, his reaction, collapse?
7. Serge in hospital, Nathalie with him, smothering him, George listening and observing, colluding?
8. The irony of the real Stephane reading the newspaper, absconding from work, coming to the funeral, making a scene? The discovery of Nathalie? The confrontation, her coming to the house, Nathalie taking her to the passage that Louise had revealed, to the sea, attacking Stephane and killing her? Taking her phone?
9. The family together, George playing the piano, everything seeming to be settled?
10. The two guards, coming to the house, the fact that Stephane had sought permission to come, ringing her phone? The long final close-up of Nathalie’s face?
11. The character of Serge, the past, womanising, despising his wife, his children, the antagonism with George, her forceful personality, running the business? Her wanting to have control over Serge? Louise, eccentric, the long marriage, tolerance, the shopping channels, her spending, spend a holiday? Becoming friendly with Nathalie? The granddaughter, Australia, taking photographs, wanting to leave the family and go back to Australia? Agnes, devotion to the family, for many decades, stern, servant, stealing from Louise? Louise accepting this?
12. The real Stephane, her life, relationships, murder, in prison, the victim of Nathalie, identity theft, Nathalie and her reputation? Stephane and her desperate dependence, getting the news, going to the house, the confrontation, her death?
13. The origin of evil, identity theft, money, lying?