Barocco (1976)
Directed by André Téchiné

Film Review

Barocco is in essence a great film which has been savagely mutilated through a combination of not entirely convincing acting and excessively self-conscious photography.  It features one of Isabelle Adjani's worst screen performances (which is saying something) and Depardieu doesn't really get the opportunity to show his talent as a great actor.  Whilst the acting is far from impressive, this is less irksome for the spectator than Bruno Nuytten's laboured, almost pretentious, cinematography, which seems to stifle the life out of the film.

Despite its failings, the film is a curious and haunting work, occasionally allowing us to see the major achievement it could have been.  It also presages some of André Téchiné subsequent better films with its twisted film noir characters and dark, dramatic intensity.

Film Synopsis

In a gloomy seaport, a bitterly fought election campaign is underway and a young boxer named Samson sees an easy way to earn himself a large amount of cash.  He has knowledge about one of the candidates which, were it to become widely known, would almost certainly cost him the election.  Samson sells what he knows to an unscrupulous newspaper publisher and makes immediate plans to start a new life in another country with his girlfriend Laure.  Before they can make their getaway, a hit-man who bears an uncanny resemblance to Samson - in fact he might even be his twin brother - goes chasing after the boxer and kills him.

Fleeing with her lover's ill-gotten gains, Laure takes refuge at the home of a friend of hers, a prostitute named Nelly.  Determined to recover the money, the mysterious hired assassin continues hunting Laure but when he catches up with her he is unable to fulfil his contract.  For her part, Laura is overtaken not by fear, but by an intense fascination for the stranger who looks so familiar to her.  By dyeing the man's hair he becomes the exact likeness of Samson and Laure is able to carry on her love affair as if her dead boyfriend had suddenly been brought back to life.  With other hit-men close on their heels, the two lovers resume their flight across town, determined to escape their present nightmare...