LA CEREMONIE

France

Synopsis

Chaterine Lelievre is pleased that she has employed Sophie, a young, conscientious and obedient maid, a solitary person little given to idle chatter, who takes in hand die "Belle Malouiniere", the rich family home. While the Lelievre family is in holiday, Sophie gets to know Jeanne, the Post¬office clerk. One day die two women find themselves indirectly confessing to murder: one has killed her daughter and the other her father. In both cases the authorities were unable to gather evidence against them. The similarity of their situations and the cynicism of their reactions make them accomplices. Little by little the members of the Lelievre family, and above all the father, begin to find Sophie insolent, even "repugnant". Jeanne, who often secretly spends the night with her friend, is requested not to set foot in die "Belle Malouiniere" again. The situation degenerates to the point where the Lelievre family dismisses Sophie. However, one evening, while die family is gathered together in front of the television, Jeanne and Sophie steal into the house and take revenge in their own way.
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Claude Chabrol

Written by: Claude Chabrol

Produced by: Marin Karmitz

Cast: Isabelle Huppert (Jeanne), Sandrine Bonnaire (Sophie), Jacqueline Bisset (Catherine), Jean-Pierre Cassel (Georges), Virginie Ledoyen (Melinda)

Nominations and Awards

  • Feature Film Selection 1995