Peau d'homme coeur de bête (1999)
Directed by Hélène Angel

Film Review

This début feature-length film from director Hélène Angel is a spirited attempt to portray the tensions and passions within a dysfunctional family. Although there are some fairly convincing performances from most of the cast (Bernard Blancan deserves a special mention), the film is hampered by weak characterisation which renders the plot unbelievable in parts.  Very little attempt is made at rationalising why the characters behave as they do - the men act like brutish Neanderthals whose main pleasure in life is beating up women, whilst the women give themselves up as either victims or prostitutes and deserve everything that comes their way. Had the film been made in Neolith times, this scenario might have been convincing, but in our slightly more enlightened age it is hard to take seriously. Compare this with Axelle Ropert's take on the dysfunctional family La Famille Wolberg (2009), which is many times more convincing, despite its more humorous slant. Peau d'homme coeur de bête does have a distinctive character and its author is to be given credit for tackling such a difficult subject without resorting to the familiar clichés. Unfortunately, the narrative has no clear focus and loses its way as the film tries to tell the story from multiple perspectives - an approach that might have work had more care and attention gone into the script. Hélène Angel followed up this provocative first feature with the slightly more palatable Rencontre avec le dragon (2003) and Propriété interdite (2011).

Film Synopsis

Discharged from the police for assaulting a prostitute, Francky retreats to the family homestead in the country, where his elderly mother and younger brother Alex live with his two young daughters (the product of a broken marriage).  Soon after, Franky's elder brother turns up after a fifteen year absence, claiming to have spent all that time in the Foreign Legion.  Old enmities resurface as the relationship between the three brothers becomes increasingly strained...