In Secret

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Opening in theatres this Friday from director Charlie Stratton and Roadside Attractions comes a story older than time IN SECRET.

This film tells the story of Therese (Elizabeth Olsen), a young girl in1860s France left with Madame Raquin (Jessica Lange) by her voyaging father. Raised with a sickly cousin Camille (Tom Felton), Therese dreams of life beyond the one she was left to.

Then a letter arrives with the news that Therese’s father will not be returning home and there is a small pension for her to live on. That is when she is shocked by the next announcement that she is being forced to marry Camille – a man she doesn’t love.

Buying a shop in Paris, the family moves and begins a city life. That is where Therese meets Laurent (Oscar Isaac), someone Camille has known since childhood. During an evening of dominos there is a spark that passes between them. When the words pass ‘I can’t live without you’ – a outing on a boat turns deadly.

Now, in the midst of Paris is an affair that will change the definition of love.

FINAL WORD: Olsen as Therese gets the opportunity to once again be the quiet character with repressed emotions (Martha Marcy May Marlene for example). This is what bothers me actually, continuing to play these roles that don’t offer a chance to express any intense emotion other than depression.

Felton as Camille tries to be the sickly husband who is still latched to his mother. He plays the character yet there is something missing. Other than I heard Draco Malfoy in his voice I just could get into his character.

Isaac as Laurent provides the total physical package of this character. Melding into the dark scenery as the illicit lover of a married woman – it doesn’t take long for his frustrations to rise to the surface (pardon the pun). He is charismatic with the deep, dark soulful eyes that brings Therese into madness.

Lange as Madame Raquin jumps right in playing a woman with a reason for everything she does. From getting her hands on the pension, to the marriage of her son and eventually having no way to speak, Lange gives it everything. Moving from the highly successful FX series AMERICAN HORROR STORY as Fiona Goode an openly delicious witch to Madame Raquin, a manipulately charming but possessive mother, Lange makes it look so easy. She continues to amaze viewers!

Other cast include: Shirley Henderson as Suzanne, Matt Lucas as Olivier, Mackenzie Crook as Grivet, John Kavanagh as Inspector Michaud, and Richard Sharkey as Chief Clerk.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give IN SECRET three tubs of popcorn out of five. The costuming is amazing, the period scenery equally stunning for this tale of two evils. There are a few things here that would have given me greater pleasure so lets get those gripes out of the way.

I don’t understand how a film that is taking place in France has NO one with a French accent. How is that possible? Was it not considered that someone would notice that? Secondly, I understand that it is a dark film but did the word ‘dark’ have to be taken so literally? The scenes inside the shop were difficult to make out at times.

Now on to the positive – I love period pieces…period. The story is somewhat predictable but I wanted to see it through. Olsen and Isaac make a good star-crossed devilish couple but it is Isaac that was most impressive. In the second half of the film Lange comes alive in character until the impressive end.

If you love period pieces, twisted triangle of a love story with meddling people in the mix then this is the film to fulfill all those wishes.

In the end – in the city of love there can be death.