Filmmakers Christophe Ali and Nicolas Bonilauri tap into Hitchcock territory with this off-kilter revenge thriller. French film legend Nathalie Baye (Day for Night, Every Man for Himself) plays Marie-France, a new secretary for younger urban planner Thomas (Malik Zidi). What Thomas does not realize is that the two have a previous history: nine years earlier, while racing to the hospital with his pregnant wife, Thomas’s car fatally struck a young man who was Marie-France’s son. While Thomas is initially skeptical of her abilities, he quickly comes to realize her value in the office. She also swiftly becomes a part of his after-work life, drawing the attention of his young son, as well as romantic interest from Thomas’s elderly father. Only Thomas’s now-estranged wife is not enchanted with Marie-France, who it turns out is not exactly the forgive-and-forget type, as she begins to exhibit an intense homicidal personality with the sole goal of avenging her son’s death. While the film has some logic holes--Thomas may be the most obtuse movie victim in recent memory--the real fun lies in watching the talented Baye carefully spin her treacherous plans around her unsuspecting targets with quiet but steely intensity. Recommended. (P. Hall)
The Assistant
Icarus, 87 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $26.99 Volume 33, Issue 3
The Assistant
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