Les seins de glace (1974)

In a beach in Nice, TV screenwriter François Rollin (Claude Brasseur) meets the mysterious Peggy (Mireille Darc) and despite her resistance, falls in love with her. Her lawyer Marc Rilson (Alain Delon) tells Rollin that Peggy is sick and she has killed her late husband. Rollin assumes Rilson is lying because Madame Rilson and his brother Denis tell him Marc is in love with Peggy himself and plans to marry her. Meanwhile, Peggy is always in fear and it seems her gardener watches every of her step. Every where she goes she is followed by Marc's chauffeur.

I don't know what the novel, which the movie was based on, is like. It's called 'Someone is Bleeding' by Richard Matheson. Who is bleeding? Bleeding inside?

Georges Lautner made this movie a good thriller and Mireille Darc played the hysterical Peggy very well. Delon's Rilson has a melancholic look (but hostile towards Rollin). The two rivals are very opposite: Rilson is serious and seems sad while Rollin is always happy and takes everything lightly. Rilson tries everything to keep Peggy away from the mental hospital. He befriends the police inspector (they call each other by first names). After 2 more killings, Rilson cannot cover for Peggy anymore and the police need to put someone in jail. At this point, François still can't see that Peggy is very dangerous. Does he really believe Rilson is the culpable that he agrees to leave together with her? Rilson only gives himself to the police to save Peggy for he has promised her never to put her back to the hospital. The inspector puts Rilson back to his sense when he says his sacrifice is useless and that she is beyond help. Peggy must be stopped before she kills again. Like in 'Rocco and His Brothers', Delon's character sacrifices himself for nothing.

As a writer, François doesn't seem to have much imagination. He is naive, perhaps blinded by love. It's almost impossible (for me at least) he doesn't believe Peggy could kill and can do it again. Who else would have killed Denis? I wonder what he thinks when he sees Rilson takes her to the top of the hill. Does he realize that he has lost her forever? -that there is a strong bond between Rilson and Peggy, a sort of wonderful understanding which he cannot break. The ending scene is beautiful. Peggy looks very peacefully happy. Rilson shows her Australia (although I'm sure she can't see it) like God showed Moses the promised land. It's obvious how much Rilson loves her and I must say that the chemistry between Delon and Darc was very good. I wonder what he will do next, after executing such a big decision i.e. the conclusion of this movie. How can he live after that? The theme song by Philippe Sarde is very beautiful. The last song sadly ends abruptly by the shot.