Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageThe Secret (1974)
Director: Robert Enrico
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Best known for his short film Incident at Owl Creek, Enrico here deals once more with a man at the end of his rope. Trintignant plays a fugitive from an institute who is befriended by an artistic couple (Noiret, Jobert), refugees from Paris now living a slightly dull life in the country. Suspense is generated somewhat needlessly through teasing the audience about Trintignant's sanity: is he a maniac on the loose, or as he claims, the victim of a government conspiracy? The film shamelessly litters red herrings along the way. More promisingly, it elsewhere displays (but does not explore) the philosophical anxieties that the French have so often found in American movies, leading to an increasing fatalism as events move towards a bleak conclusion. But too much is withheld from the audience by the film's sleights of hand, although Trintignant's worried performance counters one's graver doubts.Author: CPe
Cast & crew
Director: Robert Enrico
Producer: Jacques-Eric Strauss
Cast: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Marlène Jobert, Philippe Noiret, Jean-François Adam, Solange Pradel full cast
Genre(s): Thrillers
Duration: 103 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now