It's not too hard to understand what this film is aiming at: It's a farce about the moral of the bourgeoisie, drawn into it's ridiculous opposite by evil mastermind Michel Piccoli and his two willing helpers. The problem is, the figures are way too one-dimensional; they are more caricatures than real persons. How then display a critique of the society that helps create people like this and protects them by judging not from deeds or character, but from class and status? The murderous trio's actions go their calm, undisturbed way, no one minds it, no one asks. Add a bit of nudity here and there, some frivolity, some virginal innocence as counterpart, mix it up, and what do you get? A would-be-comedy that wants to be art. Considering this is based on actual events, the reconstruction leaves an even worse taste. For a film from the worlds leading film nation, filmed during the most promising decades of film and starring good actors, a major disappointment.
