Adapted from the book "Lives of the twins" by Joyce Carol Oates, The Double Lover is François Ozon's third appearance in official competition at Cannes. He directed Jérémie Renier for the first time and Marine Vacth for a second time after Jeune et Jolie. An adaptation that proves to be very successful.
Chloé is a 25-year-old woman who decides to go to therapy because of stomach aches that she thinks are psychological. With Paul, his shrink, they fall in love and end up living together. It is there that Chloe discovers that her lover has hidden some secrets about his identity.
Exciting erotic-psychological thriller
What a pleasure to hear that François Ozon admires directors such as Hitchcock and Brian De Palma. In L'amant double, he uses all the codes of the erotic or psychological thriller by playing with the compositions of his images. He therefore makes several references, including some to these 2 monsters of cinema. He beautifully uses the play of mirrors throughout the film to characterize the dual personality or evil side of the characters. Frameworks crafted in intelligent ways that even seem too perfect at the risk of losing character-centric focus. The first therapy sessions are full of ideas transcribed by different frameworks. Beautifully placed split-screens and superb fields/counterfields help to immerse us right into the plot. At no time does the film tire.
Fortunately, the performances of Marine Vacth and Jérémie Renier are of the same level. She was seen smiling, shy and stressed at a press conference, immersing herself in a fascinating way in this role of a fragile young woman with a dramatic profile. As for the interpreter of Cloclo, he uses his experience for this double role of two twin brothers with opposite personalities, even in their way of seducing. The play between these two actors works, fascinates and gives all its value to the staging of François Ozon. The mastery being as much in the direction as in the interpretation, we take immense pleasure in following this intoxicating story.
With a finale neither surprising nor disappointing, The Double Lover is one of those thrillers that we love to watch as it is artistically elegant and successful. We can't say that to every one of his films, but hats off and thank you Mr Ozon!
Trailer of The Double Lover currently in theaters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CKVkNNOk2I
