L'occhio del maligno

Unlike most reviewers and commentators, I find Chabrol's early films his most interesting. LES BONNES FEMMES and L'OEIL DU MALIN, along with the nearly magnificent Occupation drama LIGNE DE DÉMARCATION are some of the best French films of their time, regardless of connection to The Nouvelle Vague (which otherwise gave us many superb examples by different directors). Here we have a theme that Chabrol would explore much later in LA CÉRÉMONIE, but with more nuance, character depth and atmosphere: the have-not versus the haves. French journalist Albin,as he calls himself, is not exactly a have-not, but he's just getting by and not doing what he's been paid to do while living in Germany. Not fluent in the language, Albin happens upon a friendly and attractive French woman in his neighborhood. Through the mostly unnecessary narration we learn how Albin feels about the woman and her famous German author husband: he envies them and wants to infiltrate their life. He does so with ease and immediately feels competitive with the husband on a professional level (he can't compete there) for the wife (no spoilers, it's complicated). Albin is handsome and intelligent, why does he not live his own life? Perhaps a layabout at heart, looking for free meals and glamorous company--a cousin to Highsmith's Ripley. It's up to the viewer to figure it all out. But that does not mean the film is in anyway confusing or unsatisfying. It's a fine example of early 60s European cinema, a mixture of enjoyable drama, artfully realized on every level. It's beautifully filmed, smartly written and very well-acted. A more textured effort than many of Chabrol's later crime films in color. Once rare, now easily accessible.