Le Corbeau

Director
Henri-Georges Clouzot
Cast
Pierre Fresnay, Ginette Leclerc, Micheline Francey, Jeanne Fusier-Gir
Date
1943
Duration
88 Minutes
Cert.
PG

Life as they know it in their small village, comes shattering down for the villagers when they fall victim to an outbreak of poison-pen letters signed by the mysterious “Le Corbeau” (The Raven). Accusing village elders of abortion and affairs, it takes no time at all for the village to implode and the accusations to fly…

Based on a true story, the film was banned after the war because of its suggested subversive and immoral overtones. Clouzot’s smart handling of plot and character, weaving a harmonious unity between both entities echoed what Englishman Alfred Hitchcock was doing across the pond and cemented his credibility as an auteur.

Fans of Michael Haneke and Alfred Hitchcock, look no further.