Le Parfum de la dame en noir

Is the mysterious Larsan really dead? The infamous reporter Rouletabille thinks not. With his trusty photographer Sainclair in tow, he accompanies newly-wed Mathilde Stangerson (Larsan’s ex-lover) with her husband Robert Darzac to ‘Hercules castle’, marooned on an island.

Following the success of Le Mystère de la chambre jaune, Bruno Podalydès adapted this sequel to Gaston Leroux’s source novel. With an array of kooky characters, riveting plot twists, witty banter and farcical set pieces, this is classic Podalydès territory.

Perhaps more so than his previous work (three of which are playing on Cinémoi: Versailles Rive-Gauche, Only God Sees Me, Liberté Oléron), the director milks the physical comedy in this film. The burlesque dominates over intrigue; a stand-out scene involving the bumbling Sainclair knocking over objects in a domino effect during a feeble effort to hide is worthy of Chaplin, Tati or the failed multiple-suicide attempt in Delicatessen. Indeed, the film’s choreography is laudable. Precise and executed to a tee, all the film’s outlandish stunts are performed naturally without special effects or digital manipulation.

That is not to belittle Podalydès’ mastery of plot, dialogue and character however. The comic tone of Leroux’s whodunit satire is recounted with glee, while the gauche leads are straight out of the Don Quixote/Sancho Panza school of maladroit heroes. For the second time, Podalydès’ brother / lead actor / co-writer Denis assumes Rouletabille’s unflagging guise, and Jean-Noël Brouté excels as the faithful Sainclair.

An ensemble cast of the highest order make up the remaining characters of oddballs and eccentrics, including Alain Resnais regulars Sabine Azema and Pierre Arditi, Vincent Elbaz (Rue des plaisirs), Michel Lonsdale (Heartbeat Detector, Stolen Kisses) and Olivier Gourmet (The Son, Burnt Out).

In addition to all of the above, Podalydès basks in the exotic setting and period detail through Christophe Beaucarne’s lush cinematography.

A magical mystery that will have you guessing and laughing throughout, the Podalydès brothers have cemented their place among the great comics of French cinema.