Fleur du Mal, La (2003, FRA/ITA) C-104m. **½ D: Claude Chabrol. Starring Benoît Magimel, Nathalie Baye, Mélanie Doutey, Suzanne Flon, Bernard Le Coq, Thomas Chabrol, Henri Attal. Typical Chabrol crime drama, though heavy-handed at times: Baye plays a local politician, whose campaign is torpedoed by a letter that discloses some outrageous facts about her family history. Who is behind it, and how will the family deal with it? Typically well-directed, well-acted drama is of medium interest only. Just doesn't add up to more. English title: THE FLOWER OF EVIL.


© Ron Altman