La belle et la bête Jean Cocteau, René Clément. 1946

Farm Chemin de Touvoie, 37210 Rochecorbon, France See in map

Les Biches (1968)

“I wish Claude Chabrol would loosen up his style a bit here – so many shots suggest that the film could have been a much more erotically potent psychosexual romantic drama if he leaned harder into the melodramatic possibilities in store. But, alas, soap is not his style. Imagine if it were every so often, though, and imagine that Les Biches were an example of the pandering. Then Stéphane Audran’s piercing eyes might actually cut into us.”

Children believe what we tell them. They have complete faith in us. They believe that a rose plucked from a garden can plunge a family into conflict. They believe that the hands of a human beast will smoke when he slays a victim, and that this will cause the beast shame when a young maiden takes up residence in his home. They believe a thousand other simple things. I ask of you a little of this childlike simplicity, and, to bring us luck, let me speak four truly magic words, childhood's open sesame: "Once upon a time..."