Que La Bete Meure (aka: This Man Must Die)

Introduction

As with the other Chabrol film I have reviewed up until now (Les Noces Rouge), I`ll leave the description of the story to the disc details section, which says everything there is to say. However, the translation `This Man Must Die` is awful, despite it being part of the publicity, but probably prevents confusion sounding less like a 1940s horror flick.
I much prefer the alternative `The Beast Must Die`, which was the title of the novel by Nicholas Blake (pen-name of Cecil Day Lewis, father of Daniel) on which the film was based, and whose title quotes the Brahms song played at the beginning and which is specifically mentioned towards the end of the film.

Video

The quality of the picture is ok considering the film was made in 1969. There are a few cracks and hairs caught on the print, but this is nothing to worry about.

Audio

The sound quality is excellent, with speech and soundtrack balanced well against each other. The original music was written by Pierre Jansen (apparently Chabrol`s composer of choice) who produces at some points a Mahlerian soundscape (not bad going for a relatively small group of players), swapping where necessary for a much more modern score. It was also great, and a little surprising, to hear the wonderful Kathleen Ferrier singing one of the Brahms `Serious Songs` at the beginning and the end, but the reason for this piece becomes clear, and makes the ending all the more understandable.

Features

No extras I`m afraid (except for English suntitles)

Conclusion

What a great film!

It has taken the simple premise of a revenge story and turned it into a fascinating psycological story of pure hatred, turning into the need for love and finally forgiveness, and along the way we are left utterly confused as to where the plot is going to take us (or perhaps I`m just easily led on).

Chabrol uses his trademark cinematic shots (cars, radios and water) to great effect and the scene in the boat sailing around the headland off Britanny is particularly thrilling.

The main actors are superb, with Jean Yanne playing the villain as a perfect monster, balanced wonderfully by Caroline Cellier as Helene, who was also involved in his son`s death but has suffered dreadfully since.

Michel Duchaussoy plays the part of the father perfectly, burning off his hatred through writing in his diary and using his pen-name (he`s a children`s author) to prevent his true identity being discovered. The gradual realisation that his obesssive hunt for the killer of his child can only lead to his own destruction is carried off perfectly, and the final `Peter Grimes moment` is particularly moving.

If you haven`t come across any Claude Chabrol films before, then this is highly recommended.