Betty

Claude Chabrol’s film is a compelling portrait of a misguided woman magnificently played by Marie Trintignant in one of her finest performances. The filmmaker creates a beguiling puzzle of his protagonist through an intelligent use of flash-back, which engenders an effective mix of suspense and dramatic flair.

The alcoholic Betty (Trintignant) wanders through the Parisian night and is preyed upon by opportunistic bar-hounds. When one of them drugs and molests her, the owner of the bar intervenes and entrusts Betty to his girlfriend Laure (Stéphane Audran). As Laure attempts to cure Betty of her addiction and depression they discuss their lives, which bring up numerous similarities and friendship is born. As her strength and memory returns, the troubled Betty is able to piece together her past and the tragic events that have resulted in her sorry situation.

Most commonly renowned for his mastery of suspense, Chabrol reminds us here of his dab-hand at drama and creation of complex female roles. Trintignant is a triumph, embodying the fragile and enigmatic Betty with conviction. Her performance keeps us continually guessing as to the past actions that haunt this damaged being and the immoral lengths to which she could resort to start her life anew. However, this is no one-woman show and the strength of the film lies in the engaging rapport between the two central characters. In her 24th collaboration with the director (and former partner), Stéphane Audran brings a poise and skill developed over years of cinematic experience to the screen. Her Laure is a perfect foil to Trintignant’s Betty, as the two women of different ages come to envisage the ‘what ifs?’ of their pasts and futures through each other’s lives.

Chabrol met the lauded author of the original book, Georges Simenon, in the sixties and they talked about writing a story motored not by classic intrigue but rather by strong characters. Shortly afterwards Simenon wrote his book Betty, and, over twenty years later, Chabrol’s adaptation does justice to their embryonic idea.