Les Cousins

Claude Chabrol's 1959 second feature, set in the decadent bohemian society of Paris, stars Gérard Blain as Charles, a studious boy come to live with his sophisticated bon vivant cousin, Paul (Jean-Claude Brialy), in the lavish apartment of his absent uncle. Shy, earnest, and naïve, Charles is an idealist in a society of reckless hedonists—alienated by Paul's friends' social games and offhanded cruelties, but smitten with a young woman named Florence (Juliette Mayniel). Strange undercurrents of obsession and decadence bubble through the party scenes, yet what's most impressive is the anxiety underlying the relationships, including the mix of affection and jealousy between the cousins, and the spell that an insolent creep named Clovis (Claude Cerval) holds over Paul. Chabrol's black-and-white sophomore effort boasts a quietly evocative style that foreshadows the themes and sensibility of his later murder mysteries and psychological thrillers. Extras on the DVD re-release and Blu-ray debut include audio commentary by film scholar Adrian Martin, and a booklet. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)