Tags
1970's, Based on a true story, Bruce Robinson, Drama, Foreign Language Film, François Truffaut, Isabelle Adjani, The Story of Adele H
Film Title
The Story of Adele H
Director
François Truffaut
Starring
- Isabelle Adjani as Adele Hugo
- Bruce Robinson as Lieutenant Albert Pinson
A haunting film from François Truffaut that delves into madness and obsession, The Story of Adele H takes its basis from the true story of Victor Hugo’s second daughter and how her unrequited love for a man led to her undoing.
The year is 1863 and beautiful Adele Hugo, daughter of the famous author Victor, travels to Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is going under an assumed name for reasons we are not aware of yet and finds shelter in a boarding house. She seems like a charming and composed young woman, yet something about her seems a little off. This becomes especially noticeable in the way her stories of why she is in Halifax change with each person she meets, though the one detail that remains the same is the mention of Yet once she meets Pinson again, it becomes exceedingly clear that the dashing but philandering man doesn’t share romantic feelings for her anymore and that their brief relationship meant nothing. He is concerned about what this will do to his image if Adele is constantly pursuing him and asks her to leave. The stubborn Adele refuses to do so and takes it upon herself to do whatever it takes to get close to him again. In the meantime she also regrets to her room at a boarding house where she spends hours writing letters of lies to her family about the non-existent relationship and pouring her heart into diaries about her delusional love( that seems perfectly rational in her mind). As her obsession progresses, she becomes more extreme and desperate in her actions, sinking into deep delusion and insanity. All of this eventually leads to Adele’s downfall where she is left as an empty shell thanks to engulfing madness and a love that is so intense that it destroys her.
There is something very poetic to be found in the direction of François Truffaut here. He paints this story as something tragic and grandly passionate, yet shows everything from one side to showcase the destructiveness of Adele. His most successful step is that he doesn’t judge Adele’s actions harshly per say. Yes her behaviour verges from lovesick to obsessive and manipulative at times, but he incorporates a sense of sympathy to her that you can’t miss. He gives The Story of Adele H a deep subtlety that many could miss at first but later witness as the heroine’s mind begins to noticeably crumble. Through the use of diary entries and voice overs from Adele, we don’t necessarily understand Adele’s mind but she has such a ferocious love that we can’t help but be shocked or moved by it. The pace unravels deliberately as a result and it makes Adele’s descent even more tragic as she goes from seemingly respectable girl to woman possessed by a love that knows no limit. Some may take issue with the slow revealing of it all, but my advice is to stay with it as it pays dividends to the haunting and saddening story on show. The cinematography paints a gloomy picture of the complexity of obsessive love, using grey and muted tones for the surroundings of Halifax. And the music score hits just the right notes of melancholy and delusion, much like the main character herself.
Isabelle Adjani is the key to this film and the real anchor of it. Adjani was 19 when she filmed this movie and her performance transcended her young years. With a magnetic screen presence, Adjani crafts a heroine of deep-rooted obsession, devotion and worrying intensity. At the start there is a degree of subtlety to Adele that Isabelle Adjani plays to well, as the character just seems to be a compulsive liar. But as her desires are laid bare and her actions become more extreme, the frightening depth of her unrequited love(thanks to the stunning work from Adjani), is slowly revealed in disturbing yet emotional ways. I believe the greatest success of Adjani’s work is that she didn’t fall into the mad woman role in an over the top way. Instead she took the internal route, that is wonderfully conveyed through her hypnotic gaze, that slowly pulled back the tragic layers of a woman broken by her determination and devotion. Quite simply, the performance is a masterful one that won’t leave you once you’ve seen it. Bruce Robinson takes the role of the selfish and spurning Pinson, who doesn’t understand Adele and wants her to leave. It’s the lesser role of the two because the work of Adjani is so powerful, but Robinson plays the part well.
A poetic and devastating movie that plumbs the depths of unrequited love and the damaging wounds of it, The Story of Adele H is a hard movie to forget. More so because it is based on a melancholy true story that is vividly brought to life by Truffaut and the startling work of Isabelle Adjani.
beetleypete said:
Good start with your World Cinema offerings, V. Adjani is a great actress, and holds this film together with a memorable performance.
Best wishes, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
She is a phenomenal performer, even at such a young age. For me, it’s all in the eyes. She can project so much with a single glance.
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beetleypete said:
If you like her, check out Isabelle Huppert’s early films too.
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vinnieh said:
I have seen a few of Huppert’s movies, but desperately need to see more. What is it with women named Isabelle and being stellar performers?
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beetleypete said:
The Lace Maker is one that I recall being very good. As for Isabelles, let’s not forget the wonderful Isabella Rossellini…
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vinnieh said:
I love Isabella Rossellini, a beautiful and wonderful actress. She is the image of her mother I always think.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It’s hard to believe that Isabelle Adjani was only 19 when tnhis movie was made. I haven’t seen this yet, but you can tell just from the piucs you included how hauntingly expressive she is. I love period pieces and the fact that this is based on true events has further piqued my interest.😊
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vinnieh said:
It’s pretty startling how composed she was at just that young age. And with the role, she just plays it wonderfully. A lot of it is based in subtlety, so when she does become more fraught it is more disturbing because she has appeared so demure. And her eyes, wow she keeps you glued to the screen.
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vinnieh said:
I also did something different when I finished the film. Usually, I begin notes on the film just after finishing but something different happened with this one. I thought about the film deeply and analysed how subtle it was and complex. I think that made me appreciate the film more, the way it was so haunting.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I think that was reflected iin your wonderful review Vinnie!
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vinnieh said:
I appreciate that Kim. I wanted to get across the way that the film makes an impact on you and how it achieves that.
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Meg Sorick said:
A wonderful review, Vinnie. This makes me want to see this movie. Thank you.
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vinnieh said:
I have completed what I set out to do then if you want to see the film. That is the best compliment.
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Meg Sorick said:
Mission accomplished!
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vinnieh said:
I do my best.
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ninvoid99 said:
Having seen all of Francois Truffaut’s body of work a few years ago, this is definitely one of my favorites as it’s currently in my top 10 films of his career as I just love Isabelle Adjani’s performance in that film as she is just so powerful in it. Here is a list of his films ranked with links to the full reviews of his films in the notes.
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vinnieh said:
I need to see more of his work,especially after watching this film. Adjani was simply sublime in the title role. Appreciate the link.
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ninvoid99 said:
You’re welcome. That was a giant I’ve managed to conquer. I’m awaiting to see who is the next giant filmmaker to conquer. It might be a while.
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vinnieh said:
So many good directors to choose from.
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keepsmealive said:
Hot damn, this sounds awesome. Thanks!
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vinnieh said:
My best advice is to watch the film and then think it over. It has a deep impact that way.
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keepsmealive said:
The best films force that on you whether you intend it or not!
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vinnieh said:
They most definitely do. If a movie has you constantly thinking about it, it has done it’s job.
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keepsmealive said:
And more often than not, it’s not just the big twist at the end that Hollywood seems to favour. The best films have you on the go the whole time.
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vinnieh said:
You said it perfectly.
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ComputerBook said:
I appreciate that Kim. I wanted to get across the way that the film makes an impact on you and how it achieves that. Having seen all of Francois Truffaut’s body of work a few years ago, this is definitely one of my favorites as it’s currently in my top 10 films of his career as I just love Isabelle Adjani’s performance in that film as she is just so powerful in it.
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vinnieh said:
It’s a very accomplished movie with a striking Isabelle Adjani as the anchor. I need to watch me some more Truffaut though.
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