L'alliance

Very strange but good looking film from little known director, Christian de Challonges which was a pretty ambitious project to take on but these were strange times in cinema, especially French cinema. Jean-Claude Carriere stars but also wrote the screenplay which is based upon his own novel. Indeed he was better known as writer and veteran of very many screenplays including several for Luis Bunuel and some of those he also appeared. Anna Karina, best known for her work with Goddard, is wonderful here, radiant throughout. Carriere is also most effective as the obsessive veterinary surgeon and if he seems to only have one expression it is a worrying one. Creepy and worrying is the name of the game here as the couple's Parisian is gradually filled with animals and insects as the two humans become more and more suspicious of each other. Ultimately unsatisfying, the film is nevertheless compelling and well worth a watch.