The first of Chabrol’s great run of bourgeois psychological thrillers traces the fallout following a husband’s discovery of his wife’s affair. From 1968’s Les Biches to 1971’s Juste avant la nuit, Chabrol made half a dozen psychological thrillers that, in the words of critic Derek Malcolm ‘have never been equalled’. La Femme infidèle is both the simplest and the most potent. A husband discovers his wife’s affair and responds with unnerving politeness and an act of violence that is as much an act of love as revenge. Audran, the filmmaker’s wife and regular collaborator, is luminous and opaque in equal measure, embodying the film’s central paradox: a woman who is both its apparent subject and its most elusive presence. Bouquet, as the wronged husband, takes his devastating revenge with the quiet efficiency of a man settling an account. And the ending lands like a cold hand on the shoulder. Catherine Wheatley, Claude Chabrol: Elements of Crime, season curator A BFI re-release. The screenings on Sun 13 Sep 12:00 NFT1; Sat 26 Sep 12:00 NFT1 will now be presented digitally as the 35mm print is unfortunately not in screening condition. We apologise for any disappointment but we hope you can enjoy this brand-new digital restoration. Joint ticket available with Claude Chabrol Season Introduction on Tuesday 1 September 18:15 NFT1. Tickets £17, concessions £14 (Members pay £2.50 less). Book in person at the box office or by phone on 020 7928 3232. Members can book a joint ticket to the screening on Wed 16 Sep 18:20 NFT3 and the La Femme infidèle Member Salon for themselves and their guests in advance. Members who watch the film on another date are welcome to attend the free Salon discussion and show their Membership Card for admission, on a first come first served basis. Screen: NFT3. Screening details: Special screening available; English language subtitles.
