This reminds me of a car wreck where people stop to gawk at the carnage. Betty is a lost should who has spent years using sex and booze to try to numb herself. Trapped in a loveless marriage, she once again resorts to her old habits--and is caught and thrown out without her kids but with a stipend from her rich ex.
The story begins with Betty on a date with a psychotic ex-doctor and she's becoming drunk VERY fast (I can't recall EVER seeing a character in a movie drink that many drinks so fast). When she awakens she's in the home of an older woman who has rescued her. And, slowly in flashbacks, we see Betty's story about her life--given in bits and pieces interspersed throughout the film. There were two problems with this method: first, it was, at times, pretty confusing following the action, and second, I just found myself not particularly caring about the character. She was a total mess.
It's a shame, as I have really enjoyed several other Claude Chabrol movies--this, unfortunately, isn't one of them. It only scores a 4 because the acting is good--the story sure isn't.
The story begins with Betty on a date with a psychotic ex-doctor and she's becoming drunk VERY fast (I can't recall EVER seeing a character in a movie drink that many drinks so fast). When she awakens she's in the home of an older woman who has rescued her. And, slowly in flashbacks, we see Betty's story about her life--given in bits and pieces interspersed throughout the film. There were two problems with this method: first, it was, at times, pretty confusing following the action, and second, I just found myself not particularly caring about the character. She was a total mess.
It's a shame, as I have really enjoyed several other Claude Chabrol movies--this, unfortunately, isn't one of them. It only scores a 4 because the acting is good--the story sure isn't.