One Deadly Summer

Exploiting her beauty to disarming effect, Isabelle Adjani won a César for her smouldering performance in this deceptively complex thriller. Working from his own novel, Sébastien Japrisot fashions a script that consistently disconcerts the viewer as the narrative focus shifts between Adjani's vengeful temptress and her besotted husband, Alain Souchon. Similarly director Jean Becker refuses to mislead us simply with appearances, as what seems to be a study of provincial boorishness is overtaken by more sinister events. Atmospherically photographed with a roving camera by Etienne Becker, this meticulously paced picture is a tad overlong, but it's undeniably dark, daring and disturbing.