In Secret

 

In Secret 2013

• Director: Charlie Stratton
• Based on the book by Émile Zola
• Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, Tom Felton, Jessica Lange, Oscar Isaac, Shirley Henderson, Matt Lucas, Mackenzie Crook
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Tom Felton – A United Kingdom, Harry Potter, Anna and the King
• Jessica Lange – Broken Flower, Big Fish, Titus, A Thousand Acres, Rob Roy, Frances, Tootsie
• Oscar Isaac – Dune, Star Wars, Annihilation, X-Men Apocalypse, Ex Machina, Inside Llewyn Davis, Robin Hood
• Shirley Henderson – Trainspotting 2, Filth, Life During Wartime, Doctor Who, The Taming of the Shrew Re-Told, Harry Potter, Tristram Shandy, Intermission, Doctor Sleep, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, 24 Hour Party People, Hamish Macbeth, Trainspotting, Rob Roy
• Matt Lucas – Doctor Who, Little Britain, Shaun of the Dead
• Mackenzie Crook – Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, Merlin, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Brothers Grimm, Finding Neverland, The Merchant of Venice, The Office, Still Crazy
• Why? The book and the cast
• Seen:  23 October 2022      

       Therèse (Olsen) is raised in France by her aunt Raquin (Lange). Her cousin Camille (Felton) is a sickly boy and becomes a sickly man. They marry and the three move to Paris.

       Therèse longs for carnal passion but Camille is indifferent. One evening he brings home from work a former neighbour Laurent (Isaac), an arrogant and sensual artist. He and Therèse don’t waste any time.

       He comes to her on his lunch breaks and on Thursday evenings they eye each other across the table with Aunt’s domino playing friends (Henderson, Lucas, Crook).

       Soon it’s not enough. Their obsession with each other needs more.

       It’s a classic novel. If you haven’t read it, do. The cast does an admirable job playing roles that are unusual for them. The film is almost worthy of the book, although I don’t remember if the book ends this way.

 4* of 5