THE BLUE ROOM

Audiences who enjoy erotic thrillers won’t be disappointed in this stylish and highly-crafted French film, which should hold audiences at ransom until the final moments.

The alluring story of Julien (Mathier Amalric), a married man who has an affair with ex-girlfriend Esther (Stephanie Cleau), spins a web of deceit and murder and is an intelligent study of the dark side of human nature.

Audiences will be absorbed from the opening scenes, as mystery and suspense is superbly created in true Hitchcockian tradition by director Mathier Amalric, who also stars in and co-wrote the film.

A cleverly written script has the story unfolding through flashbacks and with Julien in custody almost immediately, inquisitiveness quickly builds, as the baffling narrative progresses.

Stephanie Cleau gives a disturbing performance as the mistress, whose glowing yet sinister smile radiates an overwhelming and unnatural obsession with her lover.

Tragic and intense, audiences will question the validity of the conclusion as they ponder, was justice really served? (MMo)

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