Der Sträfling und die Witwe

This is a deeply introspective French drama. There’s not much dialogue, but you’ve got Alain Delon and Simone Signoret delivering absolutely stellar performances. Georges Simenon's source material is undoubtedly solid, but Alain and Simone breathe life, image, and emotion into their characters. They bring a soul to the film that makes it a beautiful experience. The visuals, with every shot of that solitary farmhouse in the middle of the French countryside, are captivating. The emotions make it an unforgettable experience—something the French cinema of the 70s excelled at. This film is a true gem for fans of classic French cinema, offering a warm, nostalgic embrace. (14.02.2023)

Excellent yet reserved performances by famous actors, a simple yet multi-layered story about one (or two) women's misery that gets an unexpected boost in the shape of a visit from a man who behaves differently from all the redneck machos in the backwater of a village, make for a somber movie that is nevertheless full of life and hope. Whatever ends up happening to her. When a director has actors and a script like this, words are superfluous: in the clothes washing scene with the widow with the other villagers, Simone Signoret manages to celebrate her triumphant victory just by scrubbing a man's shirt. SUMMARY WITH SPOILER: Everything would have gone wrong anyhow, even if the gendarmes hadn't shown up. But those few moments of happiness were wonderful. (23.02.2023)