"Femme Fatale"

A Brief Review of François Ozon’s film, “The Crime is Mine”

The farce is a type of comedy that exaggerates the improbable; sometimes to the point of silly absurdity. In classic literature, William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” is a perfect example.

In cinema, there are the classics like “Duck Soup,” “Some Like It Hot,” and “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Francois Ozon’s new film “The Crime is Mine” ranks among the best of those French farce films, such as the classic “La Cage Aux Folles.”

However, as the filmmaker’s statement explains below, such comedy is often employed to lay bare and critique the kinds of serious social norms that may need to be brought to light for more than mere amusement.

Etymologically, the word ‘farce’ comes from the Latin word, ‘farcire,’ which means to stuff or fill. Appropriate for our film this weekend, it is also the definition of the Old French word. I trust you’ll find our film selection this month is absolutely stuffed with such serious humor! jb