Review of The Story of Adèle H. (1975) by Alexandre S — 27 May 2010
Aloof yet microscopic view of a tragic personality. This is the sort of story which doesn't appeal to one who searches for deeper levels of consciousness in art, but manages endless echoing anecdotes on the same theme. It is a voyeuristic case study.
The biopic is of a woman who wants a man who doesn't want her. She is pathologically obsessed, a compulsive liar, and incapable of escaping a tunnel vision which brings her into the embrace of madness.
A curious tale, told with a precise, refined competence, but lacking any awakening of spirit in our heroine. If the character is not to transform then the story needs to find some parallel promise of purpose. It doesn't try. With nothing else to illuminate outside the obvious, the film is another detachedly exposed tragedy, but nothing beyond.
This review of The Story of Adèle H. (1975) was written by Alexandre S on 27 May 2010.
The Story of Adèle H. has generally received positive reviews.
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