Description

 Movies : Horror : DVD Rip : French

English Subtitles Included



A slow-burning tale of psychological horror, Le Boucher delights in building complex, likeable, all too-human
characters. Many small towns nestle in the valleys of France, cosy communities with small, family-run shops where local
gossip can always be picked up. In such a place everyone knows everyone else, people's lives are open and the whole town
gathers to celebrate a wedding. So it is here, a magnificent feast to celebrate the marriage of Leon Hamel (Mario
Beccara) to his sweetheart. Friends and family are gathered round, including his associate Helene (Stephane Audran) and
town butcher Popaul (Jean Yanne). Placed, by chance, next to each other, Helene and Popaul get on well, dancing badly
and staggering out into the sunshine after a little too much champagne.



Helene and Popaul have much in common, both of them fairly recent additions to the town (although Popaul was actually
born there) and unburdened romantically. Popaul has recently returned from a long stint in the French army travelling
the world and seeing horrors that he'd rather not talk about. The only reason that he's returned now is that his abusive
father has died, leaving him their shop. Helene runs the town school with Leon, bringing up everyone's kids and doing a
fine job of it. The school is quite the focal point of their relationship, since Helene lives above it, which is
convenient for Popaul. In a particularly surreal moment he brings her a fresh joint of lamb and brandishes it like a
bouquet (so similar is it to a bunch of flowers).



With time their relationship deepens, although Helene gently rejects any progression beyond the platonic. She was
greatly hurt in a difficult break-up, several years previously, and aims to protect herself by uninvolvement. In the
background village life continues, briefly shaken by the discovery of a girl's corpse in the local woods. It's a bizarre
and troubling occurrence for such a close-knit town, particularly when there appears to be no sexual motive. The local
police are stymied by their case, lacking any clues to the killer's identity. When Helene herself discovers the second
body, on a school trip, doubt creeps into her mind. Could the murderer be someone close, perhaps even Popaul?



Le Boucher has many remarkable qualities, several of which stem from the exquisite atmosphere created by Claude
Chabrol. Set in the Perigord region of France, the natural settings (particularly the nearby limestone caves) are
stunning. With the mist gently rising over the river and the fairy-tale unease of the forest, these locations provide an
intense regional flavour. An associated feature is that the small town behaves realistically, with chickens scratching
in the road and inhabitants going about their daily business. A lot happens in the background of Le Boucher, not all of
which is insignificant.



If you haven't seen Le Boucher then you must not read beyond this paragraph. In order to discuss the film fully crucial
details are about to be revealed. Suffice to say that this is an excellent and nervy character study. Well worth
watching for the excellent use of suggestive, saturated colour tones.



The plot of Le Boucher is not particularly complex and it doesn't contain many twists. Instead its strength rises from
its ability to make us care about Helene and Popaul, to empathise with their situation. A great deal of time is spent
detailing their relationship, the times they spend together and the brutal fact that Helene simply doesn't desire
emotional entanglement. The murders, when they occur, are almost ignored - nasty things lurking in the shadows, a hope
that they'll stop. Little does Helene realise that she is driving Popaul to these acts, leaving him stranded with his
demons and self-disgust. If only she could have reached out to him but, when she does, it's too little, too late.



A fundamental question here is whether Popaul can be considered culpable for his attacks. He certainly doesn't wish to
express himself this way, internally disgusted at his behaviour, but no other outlet is available. Perhaps Helene is
guilty for holding onto her solitude, with a result far worse than she could ever have imagined. Alternatively the blame
could be laid with society for sending him to war, an individual already damaged by his father. Ultimately it is
possible to condemn no one in Le Boucher, just to pity them for what might have been. 





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