Les enfants terribles

As was the case with his previous film The Silence of the Sea, Jean-Pierre Melville attempted here to demonstrate how a character’s moral codex influences his or her outlook, how they develop, and in what ways they are blind. Once again, the plot was based on a literary work, this time the novel of the same name by Jean Cocteau published in 1929. The story of siblings Elisabeth and Paul provides an analysis of erotic relationships based on both incest and homosexual proclivities. The plot verges on absurd theater when the protagonists isolate themselves from the outside world in an eccentric atmosphere of bizarre games and mutual pretense, leading to intrigue and a tragic outcome. Jean Cocteau, it is said, wouldn’t allow a film adaptation of his novel, but in the end he chose Jean-Pierre Melville for the job. Their relationship was sorely tested during the shoot since the director brooked no interference, while Cocteau couldn’t help but give advice. In the end, Melville allowed him to film eight shots (the scene on the beach when uncle buys a straw hat). Thus, thanks to a lucky coincidence, Cocteau became an occasional director of the film version of his own novel. In addition, the multitalented artist lent his voice to the narration and the sound of his own heartbeat to the character Paul. The novel was updated through the costumes, which were to give the story universal significance. This time around, Melville diverges from the literary work in his efforts to give the film an impression of timelessness. And he employed rather sophisticated camera movements to express his protagonists’ psychological states.