Bête Noire

Sophie Deraspe's BETE NOIRE is a brilliantly directed and acted exploration of why a social misfit undertakes mass murder in his high school in French Canada. This is both a police and psychiatric investigation told from the inside specifically through the eyes of the killer's family as well as other victims. The leads are particularly to be commended on their impressive performances always sensitively handled and never overblown. Ms Deraspe's stylish direction has obtained some of the best performances from her cast that you will ever see in a beautifully measured series. It is both emotional and intense to watch but very rewarding in so many ways. There is no other word for this but SUPERB. I came away with new insight into something so seemingly inexplicable. Much intelligence has gone into this work and it casts new light on what has been a significant modern social problem.