Charles Brabant Movies
- 1985
This is an affecting story about a father's attempts to mend the breaches in the relationship between himself and his 10-year-old daughter. Emmanuel (Sami Frey) is the father of Elise (Mara Goyet) by his first marriage, and the stepfather of an older daughter by his second marriage. He tries to make the best of both family relationships by taking off to visit his young daughter on the weekends, but that only makes his new family a little jealous -- especially his stepdaughter. She herself is confused about her own relationship with him. After a particularly emotional send-off one weekend, Emmanuel and Elise take a trip from the south of France into Spain, working on a film project. Through a series of round-about conversations, Emmanuel manages to open up a few channels of communication with Elise -- channels that expand even wider when he uses the technique of talking into her video camera to express thoughts and feelings that otherwise would have remained hidden. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sami Frey, Mara Goyet, (more)
- 1958
Le Piege (The Trap) top-bills Raf Vallone as a likeable fugitive from justice. Protected from arrest by big-hearted waitress Magali Noel, Vallone manages to elude the law long enough to begin a legit job as a truckdriver. When Noel's boss learns the truth about Vallone's past, he blackmails the couple to ensure his silence. Any character who thinks he can get away with extortion in a film noir of this nature all but has "MURDER VICTIM" tattooed on his forehead. Compactly produced and consummately acted, Le Piege is a satisfying second-echelon thriller. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Raf Vallone, Magali Noël, (more)
- 1956
Ugo Betti's allegorical play The Island of Goats served as the basis for the French melodrama Les Possedees. Raf Vallone heads the cast as a man who looks, and acts, like a goat. Vallone wreaks havoc upon a houseful of females, who cannot seem to resist his charms despite his ugliness. Madeline Robinson co-stars as the head of the household, whose fascination with Vallone results in near-disaster. A few of the film's sexier scenes were trimmed for American consumption, but the story, such as it is, remains intact. Also known as The Possessed, this quirky little film was given its biggest showing at the Cannes Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Madeleine Robinson, Raf Vallone, (more)
- 1954
Barbara Laage essays the title role in Zoe. Our heroine's adventures begin when she catches the eye of a big-city playboy named Arthur (Michel Auclair), who is attracted not only to Zoe's beauty, but by her insistence upon telling nothing but the whole truth. This trait causes no end of comic complications when Zoe moves into the palatial home of Arthur's family. The limit comes when Zoe botches a big business deal formulated by Arthur's not-altogether-honest father (Louis Seigner). Zoe is based on a stage farce by Jean Marsan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Laage, Michel Auclair, (more)
- 1952
Barbara Laage plays the title role in the ironic French drama The Respectful Prostitute. No one considers Lizzie (Ms. Laage) particularly respectful until one of her clients is accused of a crime. Summoned to court, Lizzie perjures herself, hoping to become socially respectable-and in so doing, she betrays her black lover. In the end, Lizzie has nothing to show for her "grand gesture". Originally titled La Putain Respecteuse, the film was adapted from a 1946 play by Jean-Paul Sartre. Now all but forgotten, The Respectful Prostitute was a runner-up in the "best picture" category at the 1952 Venice Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Laage, Ivan Desny, (more)
