Gabrielle

Set in Paris, at the dawn of the 20th century, Gabrielle is a poignant story of passion, betrayal, and social class, helmed by French New-Wave veteran Patrice Chéreau. The film features compelling performances by Isabelle Huppert as Gabrielle Hervey, a woman of status with an enigmatic temperament, and Pascal Greggory as her wealthy publisher husband, Jean Hervey. Claudia Coli adds impeccable support to the well-rounded cast.

Gabrielle is a period drama but it's far from your typical costume drama. It takes the viewer into an intellectually and emotionally stimulating confrontation between a husband and wife in a high society arena, a battle brought on by the acts of the seemingly perfect wife, Gabrielle. The dissection of their marriage is soaked in silent rage, seething passion, and profound despair, creating an atmosphere that is both captivating and haunting.

The narrative revolves around Jean Hervey, who seems to have a perfect life, including a successful career, lavish house, and a beautiful wife. He takes pride in his marriage as if it's an exhibit of his status, with Gabrielle acting the part of the perfect spouse immaculately, in his well-groomed, bourgeois gatherings.

But everything comes crashing down when Jean discovers a letter from Gabrielle, revealing her affair with another man. This seismic revelation stirs an emotional havoc, triggering a torrent of emotions in Jean, which sets the stage for a gripping confrontation when Gabrielle unexpectedly returns home the same evening. What follows is a challenging and deeply emotional journey as they negotiate the ruins of their marriage, struggling to understand the motives and emotions behind the façade of their once-perfect life.

The film is expertly directed by Chéreau, who masterfully balances the narrative through alternating scenes of actuality and dreams. His staging of rooms decorated by the renowned designer Olivier Radot, gives an air of opulence needed for the bourgeois status of the characters, simultaneously presenting the cold, hollowed ambience of the deteriorating relationship. The use of natural lighting as well as the simple yet poignant cinematography of Eric Gautier, blends perfectly to give the film a somber and melancholic aesthetic, mirroring the emotional turmoil of the characters.

Isabelle Huppert delivers an outstanding performance as Gabrielle. Silently expressive, Huppert is both tender and rigid, embodying a woman confined by the expectations of society, longing for love, and battling its consequences. Her portrayal of a woman who decides to break free from the norm and indulge in her desires, only willing later to pay the price, adds a dramatic edge to the film.

Pascal Greggory impresses as the undermined husband, Jean. He effectively portrays a proud man coming to terms with the unforeseen betrayal from his wife, and his realisation of the facade in his life is an emotionally charged breakdown. Greggory's performance, in contrast to Huppert's more composed character, is filled with raw rage and pain, making the audience sympathize with his plight.

Chéreau brilliantly uses a mix of dialogues and monologues by both characters, with silent sequences, adding depth and emotional intensity to the narrative. The film beautifully brings out the dichotomy between silence and speech, public image and private betrayal, love and resentment, making it an emotional tour-de-force. At times, the movie feels like a 'play on screen', distinguished by sophisticated dialogue and carefully executed performances.

Gabrielle is certainly not a film for everyone. It is intense, deeply emotional and primarily dialogue-driven, leaving the audience to delve deep into the psyche of its characters. It speaks volumes about the facades of marriages, the constraints of societal norms, and the devastating aftermath of exposed secrets. And while it is set in the past, Gabrielle is a timeless chronicle of love, deceit, and the raw desperation that human beings can feel when their world is turned upside down. It is a poignant exploration of the human condition, and a masterful depiction of the complexities and contradictions that lie beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives.