The Crime is Mine (Subtitled) Movie Review

The beginning has us in Paris, France. We see a young blonde actress, Madeleine Verdier, played by Nadia Tereszkiewicz, walking out of a beautiful estate after some screaming and indications of a fight. The music by Philippe Rombi is astounding.

He also worked on “Swimming Pool,” recently “Driving Madeleine” and much, much more. His magical work prepares you for a crime film circa 1930’s. That’s perfect since “The Crime is Mine” is set in 1935. The film is loosely based on films called, “True Confession” from 1937 and “Cross My Heart” from 1946. This film does have a lot to say if you care to stick with it to hear what that message is. One hint… think Harvey Weinstein. Don’t worry. There’s no reason you would want to leave once this starts. It does have a big message about men and women; especially men having power over women and that needing to change.

Pauline Mauléon (Rebecca Marder) is Madeleine’s roommate. With Madeleine yet to have gotten a good role in a while and Pauline, a young lawyer without a lot of experience and no prospects, they’re hit by the landlord about the rent they owe… and about the back rent. Pay or they’re out. They both despair, but Pauline reminds Madeleine that she has André Bonnard (Édouard Sulpice), who loves her. Pauline is like the “eternal confidant, as if in a play.” So, she won’t be so lucky, but André is wealthy! Surely, Madeleine will be comfortable and able to live a nice life. Madeleine doesn’t want that. She wants to get paid for acting work so they can pay their own rent, but also, it is insinuated that they can stay together because the women are sleeping together.  

Madeleine was just at Montferrand’s house, the biggest theater producer in Europe. She went for an audition, trying desperately for the starring role, knowing she was good enough for it, so she had no doubts. To her surprise, she was only offered a minor part.

Madeleine tells Pauline that she was so discouraged because she thought this was finally her big break into the big time. It turns out Montferrand wanted something else from her instead. For about 1,000f, which equals out to be about $3.00 a day, he wanted her to be his mistress. He then starts pawing after her. The more she struggled, the more excited he got. When she gets home, she says to the landlord, Mr. Pistole (Franck de Lapersonne), that all men are pigs. He is taken aback as if slapped.

André comes by and tells Madeleine that he’s not interested in taking over his father’s company as a vocation, but he has an idea that’ll keep them in the throngs of wealth. He’ll marry a widow he knows who needs a husband. He pulls out her picture. Not a looker. She’s not winning any beauty pageants anytime soon, so Madeleine doesn’t have to worry. He’ll still love only her, but the widow is very wealthy, so Madeleine can be his mistress, and he’ll give her anything she wants. How is this any different to what Montferrand was offering her? She slams the door in his face, telling Pauline that he’s crazy. Pauline tells her that “Patience is an art that requires patience,” meaning that things will turn around for both. Madeleine suggests they kill themselves since they’re not good at anything.

The next day, Inspector Brun (Régis Laspalès) comes to question her about Montferrand, putting her on the suspect list. When he leaves, she tells Pauline that they’re going to have a night on the town, including seeing a Billy Wilder film at the cinema, which is used against her later at her trial. After speaking to her, the judge, Gustave Rabusset (Fabrice Luchini) is convinced they have their man… woman. His court reporter Léon Trapu, played very well by Régis Laspalès, suggests that his boss is rushing the process and that others could still be suspects. They still need to speak with the staff. He’s immediately shot down and goes back to typing.

Fernand Palmarède (Dany Boon) is summoned to speak to Gustave. He tells Palmarède that he did buy a house from the deceased for a lot of money, but when all is said and done, Palmarède says it wasn’t him. The judge throws his arms around him. That’s all he needed to hear to remove him from the list of potential candidates in said murder.  Palmarède hands Madeleine his card and accidentally drops a hint he has already heard of her.

We go to Black & White when Gustave goes over how he thinks the event happened. He believes he wanted his money. She shows him the daily paper. A lot of his money was found in a cigar box. Wanted his money? She didn’t look very hard for it if that’s her motivation.

Pauline suggests to her that passion be her motive. Maybe they can use this to their advantage. She was seduced and with what she has on him putting her on his casting couch, the case could possibly get thrown out. In this case, perhaps she just confesses. Madeleine thinks about it and finally tells Gustave, “The crime was mine!” He immediately has her sign her confession, happy to get a win! The strategy now is to succeed in court and become known, possibly famous, for their victory.

The girls talk about how sexy she needs to look in court and that she better use the best acting she ever has to get through to the all-male jury Madeleine will face. It’s at this point where some humor is thrown in. The papers read, “Lost lamb or Cold Manipulator?” When on the stand, she’s an innocent little girl. At closing arguments, the prosecution asks for the death penalty, tired of women getting off when they’ve committed a crime. Madeleine and Pauline, now Madeleine’s lawyer, use this to their advantage. It’s a man’s world and what is a girl to do when they’re continually over-powered, controlled and abused? The defendant speaks through the men to their mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. She is fighting and defending herself for a common cause. She never thought she’d be in a position where she’d have to kill someone. She didn’t sign on to be the object of a man’s pleasure, she wanted her life with full freedom to do with as men are assured. These stereotypes won’t be appreciated, but definitely stand out.

The spoiler is that the plan works. She gets acquitted and job offers come in for both she and Pauline. But then an unexpected character pops in to muddle up their happy lives. I’ll let you see that part for yourselves.

There is some comedy, but I found the film to be dramatic because of what Madeleine goes through and what women still encounter to this day. It was so, perhaps a bit too long but, outside of Tereszkiewicz’s acting, I truly felt I was watching an old film, one I happened upon as I was flipping channels and stayed to watch what happened next.

I recommend.

Opens Friday, January 12 in Phoenix at Harkins Shea 14 and Mary D. Fisher Theatre in Sedona.