Thursday, June 21, 2012

I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... (1976)

I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... • Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère... (1976)
I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... • Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère... (1976)
Genre: Drama
Director: René Allio
Starring: Claude Hébert, Jacqueline Millière, Joseph Leportier
Language: French
Duration: 130 min.
Rating: 7.8
Summary:
In Normandy in 1835, Pierre Rivière savagely murdered most of his family and then, in the course of the investigation and trial, wrote an unusual autobiographical account of the murders, carefully explaining his motivations for the heinous crime.
I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... is a film directed by painter turned director René Allio, inspired by a book published by French philosopher Michel Foucault in 1973. Compiled from actual court documents detailing the written testimony of a young man convicted of parricide in 1835, and adapted by a screenwriting team that included notable writer/director Pascal Bonitzer, in his first writing credit.

Allio took an interesting approach to the film, in many ways quite similar to the style of Robert Bresson. Shooting on location in Normandy where the event transpired, and casting local villagers, all non-professional actors for the entire production. By doing so, he was not only able to tell the details of a strange and grisly multiple murder, but also explore the fascinating living conditions and traditions of these people whose way of life had not really changed very much in modern times.

I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... • Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère... (1976)

The film is told using a series of voice overs, each one based on actual court testimony, relaying multiple perspectives of the events that took place, many of which contain conflicting details. The central voice heard is of the killer, 20 year-old Pierre Rivière, whose lengthy, detailed, and remarkably literate written confession, containing high level vocabulary and grammar you don't expect to hear from a poor self educated farm boy, gives us a chilling close-up of his mind set and of the events that drove him to commit such a disturbing crime.

There is a very authentic and natural look it, from the setting and costumes to the actual peasants basically playing themselves. However that doesn't always work to the film's advantage, every so often the lack of acting talent from the large cast of extras shines through, and some of the delivered lines seem like something you would see in a renaissance faire.

Overall though, it's an effective ploy. Especially the performance of Claude Hébert who has a chilling, rather expressionless aura about him, one that lets on little of the true troubled thoughts and feelings going through his mind. There are also fine performances by all of his family members as well, including Jacqueline Millière as his cold and callous mother and Joseph Leportier as his selfless and suffering father, trapped in a loveless marriage and forced to work endlessly to pay off his wife's mounting debts.

It's a slice of inconsequential history made captivating by the brilliant way it is told, one that takes it's time to establish a rhythm, but eventually unfolds in a fascinating manner. Leaving us with a series of difficult questions to which there are no clear cut answers; while also providing a very unique and detailed look at life in those times.     
Bonjour Tristesse
I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... • Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère... (1976)

I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... • Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère... (1976)

I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... • Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère... (1976)

I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... • Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère... (1976)

I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... • Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère... (1976)

I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... • Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère... (1976)

I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... • Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère... (1976)

I Pierre Rivière, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister and My Brother... • Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère... (1976)

8 comments:

The Angry Lurker said...

I'd like to read the book as well!

Michaël Parent said...

I've never heard of this film but I will put it on my list for sure!

Lisa Thatcher said...

I've wanted to see this for a long time. I"m a Foucault fan and its supposed to be an incredible story and film experience. Thanks for a great review. Really facinating subject matter.

d_4 said...

I feel it'd be a little awkward to watch. The story and the acting.. it'd be interesting but I won't have my hopes too high.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah, I think you would appreciate this one, at least the unique filmmaking that went into it.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I'm sure there's an English translation around somewhere.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah fascinating subject, but also fascinating how Allio put it all together. There's a fairly recent documentary about this film that I'm now trying to locate.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah it's a little strange and not for everyone. You have to dig the title though, sounds like something a post-metal band would come up with.

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