A romantic triangle with the delectable Catherine Deneuve at its apex sounds enticing. Alas, La Chamade offers little sizzle or intrigue, weighed down by a confusing and contradictory plot, questionable casting and uninspired direction.
Based on a 1966 novel by the celebrated French writer Françoise Sagan, this 1968 melodrama follows Deneuve as Lucile, who lives with rich businessman Charles (Michel Piccoli).
Despite their age difference - she’s 25, he’s in his forties - they seem truly happy, although she has no job or consuming interests.
So one wonders why Charles encourages her to see Antoine (Roger Van Hool), a young journalist they met at a party. 'Follow through with it or not, whether I know or not," Charles advises her.
Their affair progresses quickly, to the point where Antoine gives Lucile an ultimatum: 'It’s Charles or me." That’s a tad unfair as Antoine already has a girlfriend.
Lucile initially can’t bring herself to leave Charles and their opulent lifestyle for the relatively impoverished journo, but relents after Antoine pursues her.
Trouble is, despite Deneuve’s considerable charms, Lucile is such a vapid, shallow, self-absorbed woman who’s subservient to both men, it’s difficult to care what happens to her.
And Van Hool makes Antoine a rather colourless, insipid character. Their love scenes are tamely handled so one can only guess at the heat under the sheets.
The most effective and touching moments are between Piccoli and Deneuve, who had appeared together in Agnès Varda\'s Les Créatures (1966) and Luis Buñuel\'s Belle de Jour (1967).
In short, this movie directed by Alain Cavalier about a passionate three-way affair lacks passion - and logic. Oh, and there are a couple of instances of really sloppy sub-titling: 'She’s libel to take all day" and 'a devine little place."
