The Page Turner

Revenge has many languages but perhaps it has hardly been accomplished as effectively as it is done here in this French film, with silence. From a 10-year-old to when she grows double that age, Denis Dercourt gets an astonishing performance out of two artistes saying everything with their eyes and the unyielding quiet they lock themselves behind.

While Deborah Francois has received acknowledgement and acclaim for her role of Melanie Prouvost in several international film festivals, Julie Richalet as the young Melanie also requires to be noted. She sets the tone of grief and determination that Melanie keeps within her while letting hardly a wrinkle show.

The 10-year-old is a gifted pianist who fails a test basically because the head of the jury, concert player Ariane Fouchecourt (Frot), couldn’t care less. Melanie leaves the room, a single line of tears down both the eyes, and locks up her piano never to play again.

Years pass, she clears school with great grades and joins as an intern in a law firm. Her boss is Ariane’s husband, the famous lawyer Jean Fouchecourt (Greggory). A twist of fate, or design, and Melanie finds herself on temporary duty in the Fouchecourt residence, looking after their 10-year-old boy Tristan (Martynciow).

Both Ariane and Tristan play the piano. Melanie offers her services to the two, to Ariane as her gentle, attentive page turner even as she pushes Tristan on to play harder pieces to impress his parents. Ariane, who is struggling since a near-fatal accident, has a make-or-break concert coming up. Melanie says nothing but in her quiet, undemanding and sturdy presence convinces Ariane that she is the support Ariane needs to pull off the concert.

With a fleeting kiss and the touch of a hand, Melanie also conveys that in return, she wants to be more than Ariane’s page turner.

Till, of course…

Silence and music have an interesting relationship, a fact oft reiterated but rarely practised. Here’s a film that respects both.

shalini.langer@expressindia.com