The latest film from the legendary French master of suspense Claude Charbol stars screen icon and regular Chabrol-collaborator, Isabelle Huppert. Here Huppert takes on the role of Judge Jeanne Charmant Killman who is placed in charge of investigating a high-profile case of embezzlement at a giant state-supported company. Cue the hostile battle between judicial and political powers as Judge Killman prepares to get to the source of the scandal and see justice served, beginning with the arrest and imprisonment of company CEO Michel Humeau (Francois Berleand). As Killman unravels the fraudulent goings on within government her personal life also comes undone.
This dramatic film is certainly made for those who enjoy scandal and conspiracy theories, the director, Claude Chabrol, hands you the keys to unlock a political world of deceit, corruption and secrecy. However, if all this conjures up images of aging men and boring political legislation then think again, A Comedy of Power emotively focuses on the relationships between the people within power.
The film is in French, but the scandal, the breakdown of relationships and diminishing positions of power are themes which easily transcend the language barrier. It is, after all, the work of a skilled filmmaker.
Judge Killman, Humeau and the French government officials are all quite accustomed to their surroundings and more importantly their place of power. This is beautifully captured in a moment of sheer decadence when a political figure is shown stubbing out his cigar in a glass of brandy he was clearly enjoying. The scene rather comically ends as a second government official remarks at how “wonderful,” the brandy tastes.
Huppert’s performance as the admirable yet also quite harsh Judge Killman stands out as she portrays a woman who comes face to face with the limitations of her own power even whilst being, in her opinion, “the most powerful person in France.” As Francois Berleand plays the corrupt CEO central to the greedy squandering of the “nation’s” money it is great that he manages to gain sympathy from the audience and his too is a striking performance.
The film is loosely based on real life investigation into charges of bribery and fraud at the French oil company, Elf Aquitaine. However, the fact that British audiences are unlikely to recognise the characters resemblance to real political figures makes the story more relevant to wider structures of class and power. As the plot evolves you can’t help but picture these corrupt politicians sat in a posh restaurant somewhere in Westminster instead of the gardens of a grand hall in Paris.
It is a surprisingly accessible film and is a good evening’s entertainment. By the end you’ll find that you’ve got quite sucked into all the drama and deceit. Makes you wonder, just what all those politicians are up to behind closed doors?
A Comedy of Power opens 14 Decenber 2007 at the ICA, London.