"The Widow Couderc" from 1971 is a moody, atmospheric piece set in the French countryside post-World War I, starring Alain Delon and Simone Signoret. An odd coupling considering Delon starred with so many va-va-va boom types. Nevertheless, their teaming works well.It is directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre.
Based on a novel by George Simenon, Signoret is the widow Tati, who runs the family farm. Her father-in-law lives with her. Across the way are her sister-in-law and husband, who hate her and would do anything to get the farm away from her. Living with them is their daughter Felicie, a young girl with an illegitimate baby.
One day a handsome stranger arrives in the area, and the widow hires him to do some work on a temporary basis. It's not long before they become lovers. Little does she know he is an escaped prisoner, Jean Lavigne. Jean notices the nubile Felicie, which makes the widow jealous. Jean and Felicie eventually become lovers as well.
However, anxious to get the farm, the widow's family wants anything on him that they can get, and encourage the father-in-law to talk and Felicie to snoop around.
This is a tragic story with a vivid look at both farm and village life, and we can see the life of the widow, which is all farm work, and the flippant youth dancing in the village. One gets the impression that her life has been nothing like this as married due to pregnancy, the baby died, and apparently she was raped by her father-in-law, who during the film tries to get into her room when she goes to bed. It also appears that sometimes she lets him in, which is indicative of her loneliness. The village women don't seem to know or want to know her, and when Jean moves in, there is a lot of gossip.
What sets this film apart is the detail of the farm work and life in the village and the spare dialogue. I can't see the pace of this going over well with American audiences. The build up is slow; the final scenes are devastating.
Signoret is excellent as a vulnerable woman with a tough exterior, protecting her farm as well as herself. Delon is wonderful as a quiet man who inveigles himself into the life of Signoret. I was so happy when he shaved the mustache. When he goes to the village dance, all spiffed up with no mustache, wearing a suit jacket, and with his hair slicked back, he looks like an Italian Vogue model. There is certainly something about the way he smokes a cigarette and tosses it away - he indeed is the essence of smooth and cool.
The end has something written about Jean Lavigne that is so convoluted - I would love to know what it actually said.
Highly recommended. Someone said the companion film on the Delon disc, Diabolically Yours, is better. Can't agree. This film is superior.