A fairly enjoyable, decadent, slice of French cinema

'The Page Turner' ( La Tourneuse de Pages) is about Mélanie Prouvost, a girl (played here by Julie Richalet) who dreams of becoming a concert pianist. She attends trials with her mother, at a prestigious school. In the middle of her piano recital, one of the panel of judges watching and listening, who happens to be distinguished concert pianist Ariane Fouchécourt (Catherine Frot), is disturbed by an assistant who brings her a message. Mélanie stops in the middle of her performance, waitng for the messenger to leave, so that all the judges may be attentive to her. With the messenger gone, she resumes her recital, but the flow of her performance has been interrupted, and the judges are not impressed. They do not accept her into the school. Her dream is destroyed.

Years later, when Mélanie is now a young woman (played here by the immensely beautiful Déborah François) she lands a job at Jean Fouchécourt's law firm (husband of Ariane Fouchécourt, who interrupted Mélanie's recital, all those years ago) so that she may exact her revenge. After working at the law firm for a while and gaining the trust and admiration of her employer, she finagles her way into Fouchécourt's opulent home, where she is charged with the care of their only child -- a young boy named Tristan, who's a budding pianist.

The vengeful damsel puts her diabolical plan into motion. One afternoon, when Ariane (who doesn't remember Mélanie at all, now that she's an adult) is practicing for an upcoming concert, Mélanie comes into the room, goes over to the piano, reads the music sheet from which Ariane is playing, and without invitation, turns the page at the right moment, so that Ariane may play on uninterrupted. Ariane is greatly impressed that this seemingly 'unmusical' young woman who's taking care of their son can read music. Ariane then hires Mélanie to be her page turner at the upcoming concert. The concert comes Mélanie turns beautifully for Ariane, and the crowd is immensely impressed by the performance. A strong bond begins to form between the two.

Jean goes away on a business trip, leaving Ariane, Tristan and Mélanie. Mélanie is due to leave the couple's home soon, so she doesn't waste time. She makes romantic overtures towards her host, Ariane, and a little romantic affair blossoms. But Mélanie is feigning her feelings, it's all part of her plan. With Ariane still in an emotionally vulnerable state because of some unpleasant past event whose nature I cannot recall, she falls deeply in love with Mélanie. Not only is Mélanie the pianist's page turner, she is now her love interest too. Ariane is now doubly dependent on her, Mélanie has become like a drug to her.

One of Ariane's band members, tells her that she doesn't have a good feeling about the new page turner, and Ariane doesn't pay any attention, she's smitten. Another concert comes and the Mélanie intentionally absconds, at the last minute, from the concert, leaving a stranger to turn for Ariane. Ariane is devastated. She is a nervous wreck. Without her lover at her side, the concert is a flop. Ariane, and the rest of the band members' reputation is tarnished. After the ill-fated concert, Mélanie reappears, and because Ariane has fallen so deeply in love with her, she tries to reprimand her, but she can't, she goes against her better judgement and takes her back. Mélanie is in a position of immense power -- exactly where she wants to be.

On the evening before Mélanie's departure from the Fouchécourt's home, Ariane writes a note, declaring her love for the young woman, and tells her that she would like to see her again (without Jean's knowledge off course), and slips the note under the Mélanie's bedroom door. Mélanie sees the note, reads it and keeps it -- ammunition to use against the woman who cheated her of her dream. Morning comes and Mélanie is up earlier than she's supposed to be, packs all of her belongings, leaves the note from Ariane in Jean's study, with the rest of his mail, where he's sure to see it, and blithely walks out through the large, ornate, front gate, without saying goodbye. Tristan sees her leave though.

Jean returns from his business trip and receives a warm welcome from his wife and son. He enters his study and as per habit, starts checking his mail, and discovers the romantic note. He reads it and is so shocked, he is at a loss for words. He enters the room where Ariane and Tristan are waiting to give him his homecoming surprise, shell shocked and holding the note in his hand. Ariane sees the deathly morbid look on Jean's face, and the note in his hand, and knows that she is ruined. She is so filled with the pain of shame that she falls to the floor, unconscious.

The camera cuts to Mélanie, walking alone down a picturesque country road, with a look of self-satisfaction in her steely eyes. Mission accomplished. Revenge has been exacted.

I had seen this film, about seven years ago, in a film magazine (Sight and Sound, I think) and had been intrigued by it. So when the Alliance Francaise de Bulawayo library -- my only source of French cinema (this isn't a paid advertisement, by the way :)) -- acquired a copy, I was thrilled. I snapped it up.

Deborah Francois, the actress who plays the older Mélanie, is immensely talented and beautiful. It's a pleasure to watch her. She bares a resemblance to the great Audrey Hepburn. She is the French equivalent of Hepburn. I adore her.

The 'questionable romance' in this film was, ahem… interesting to behold. There's a scene in which Mélanie emerges from a swimming pool, water flowing down her scantily clad form, and walks past Ariane, who looks at… You get the picture. :)

I found 'The Page Turner' to be a fairly enjoyable film.