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Mark of an Angel (2008)

Director: Safy Nebbou

Time Out rating

Average user rating

4 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

One vital plot point of Safy Nebbou’s otherwise slick and thoughtful thriller is hard to believe – but then, in the midst of doubt, one remembers that a true story inspired the film. So where does that leave those worries about the overall credibility? Rather than undermining it, such niggles add an additional layer of intrigue to a film that trades in almost supernatural ideas of motherhood. Elsa (Catherine Frot) is troubled: the mother of a small boy, she’s going through a divorce and the concerns of her parents suggest she has a history of depression and breakdowns.

When she spots a familiar young girl at the party of one her son’s friends, she is adamant the child is the baby thought to have died in a hospital fire days after Elsa gave birth. Elsa keeps her feelings to herself but makes friends with the girl’s wealthy mother, Claire (Sandrine Bonnaire), a pretty young woman whose light presence is in strict contrast to Elsa’s increasing mania as she turns from Claire’s new pal to her omnipresent stalker.

Nebbou quietly marshals claustrophobia and tension without encroaching on more bombastic thriller territory. He’s well-served by two actresses who play up to the subtlety of their roles as written: Frot is pleasingly hard to read, so we’re never sure on which side of reason her behaviour falls, while Bonnaire gradually allows a growing sense of unease into her portrait of a woman who superficially has it all. To discuss the film any more could ruin it, but needless to say it should inspire heated conversation among any who see it.

Author: Dave Calhoun 2009-05-19 12:57:51

Time Out London Issue 2020, May 7-13, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Martin Sutton said...

Posted on Jun 21 2009 18:31 A terrific movie,. which had the audience at the watermans traumatized. It's genre is what is the melodrama, what they use to call a 'women's picture'. King of the weepies, Douglas Sirk himself, could not have bettered this marvellous portrayal two women's minds teering on the brink of dangerous madness, fighting over a child like two lionesses. Catherine Frot and Sandrine Bonnaire are never less than brilliant, making the screen shimmer with emotion. Director Safy Nebbou sets scenes against such backgrounds as an eerily lit swimming pool, or a dramatic staging of 'The Firebird' ballet, which gives this domestic melodrama an expressionistic edge,

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tony ellis said...

Posted on Jun 20 2009 05:21 Despite the plot twist being a little hard to believe and the ending/non-resolution, being somewhat disappointing, (although this ending is more preferable than the way it would have ended had it been a Hollywood film) The magnificent peformances by Frot and Bonnaire (love that gal!) as women on the edge tower above anything I have recently seen au cinema and make irrelevant any problems I may have had with the story. My friends and I were transfixed throughout. A+++

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Lise said...

Posted on Jun 04 2009 23:02 Unbelievable plot, supposedly 'inspired' by a true story. Wonder what was the true bit. I wouldn't recommend it.

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tonia said...

Posted on May 21 2009 17:08 I saw this film at a preview screening. I highly recommend it. An edgy study of motherhood well played by two of France's leading actresses.

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