Le Boucher (The Butcher) tells the story of the glamorous headmistress of a rural school, and her friendship with the local butcher. Their friendship blossoms at the same time as a series of grisly murders in the local area.
That’s about it for plot. Le Boucher is a slow-moving thriller (is that a contradiction?) with strong but subtly nuanced performances from the two leads. The simmering tension between teacher, Hélène, and butcher Popaul builds gradually to a satisfying payoff.
Director Claude Chabrol seems to have been a big name in French cinema (forgive my obvious lack of knowledge) and I’ll be sure to keep my eyes peeled for more of his work.
Hélène and Popaul
Score: 7/10
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