L'Ombre du Doute (A Shadow of Doubt)
Directed by Aline Issermann
Starring Mireille Perrier, Alain Bashung, Sandrine Blancke
Opens at the Sydney Academy Twin, June 30
Reviewed by L. Pradhan
Issermann says that all of her films deal with the same subject, the "dictatorship of the family". There is no more sinister manifestation of this dictatorship than in the case of child sexual abuse.
In A Shadow of Doubt, the issue of incest is dealt with in a manner which is both powerful and enlightening. Alexandrine (Sandrine Blancke) is an intelligent and shy 12-year-old who is fearful of her father, Jean Leblanc. Her anxiety is identified quickly by an alert and caring school teacher.
Jean Leblanc, brilliantly played by Alain Bashung, is an outwardly attractive and respectable man who loves his children. There is only the word of his daughter to persuade us that this may be a mere facade. Jean feels trapped and falsely accused, realising that there is no way to remove the stain that a charge of incest leaves.
His frustration, anger and fear become paramount and he sums up his situation by comparing it to Kafka's Trial. But the question which arises again and again throughout the film is, why would a child make such allegations if they were not true?
A Shadow of Doubt begins with an almost idyllic scene of the Leblanc family having a picnic in a forest. The father is presented as voyeuristic; much of the time he views his family through a hand-held video recorder, zooming in and lingering on their faces as he pleases. But the peace and tranquillity are quickly dispersed.
As time goes on, Alexandrine's terror intensifies and is reflected by a superbly shot dream sequence. She bravely makes a statement to the police, but is asked questions which all victims of sexual assault are forced to face: did you fight back or scream? why not? Brought face to face with her father, she withdraws her statement.
This causes problems for her later, as the magistrate hesitates to believe her allegations. But overall, Issermann chooses to show the legal system working as it should, and the emphasis remains on the family and how the turmoil affects each of them. The relationships between members of the family are portrayed magnificently by a superb cast.
While the subject matter is disturbing, the film itself is not. It has a subtlety which focuses on the emotions of the characters. The most interesting of these is that of the mother, Marie Leblanc (Mireille Perrier), who refuses to believe the accusations which are made by her daughter and unquestioningly supports her husband.
A point this film depicts with great poignancy is that sometimes abuse is a legacy. Marie herself grew up in an unsympathetic and uncaring home and treats her daughter in the same critical manner. The greatest problem Alexandrine faces is the emotional pressure exerted by both her parents, who blame her for the break-up of the family. A Shadow of Doubt shows children as victims who have little hope of escape because they often feel loyalty and love for those who abuse them.