La flambée: A dated but weirdly tense look at loyalty

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you have a thing for old French melodramas where everyone talks like they are in a play. If you like modern pacing, stay away. If you enjoy watching people make terrible life decisions while wearing very stiff uniforms, you might actually dig this.

It starts off with this military commander—a guy who clearly takes his job way too seriously—getting caught in a trap. He kills a spy. It is messy, but the way it’s shot makes it feel more like a stage performance than a real crime.

Then there is the wife. She is played by Marthe Mussine, and she spends the first act looking like she’d rather be anywhere else. She is planning to leave him for a minister, which is a whole other layer of drama I didn't see coming.

The transition in her character is... sudden. It is like the director just decided, "Okay, she loves him now," and we are supposed to go along with it. It feels a bit jarring, but in a way that keeps you watching just to see how far they push it.

Some random thoughts:

• The lighting in the office scene is weirdly dark, like they were trying to hide the lack of budget or just create mood. It worked, mostly.
• Jacques Grétillat has this way of staring into the distance that makes you wonder if he forgot his lines or if he is just deep in character.
• There is a moment near the middle where the dialogue gets so rapid-fire I actually had to rewind.

It doesn't have the same grit as Comradeship, which is a shame, because I kept wanting a bit more weight to the military stuff. Instead, it leans heavily into the romantic tension.

One scene in the drawing room goes on for way too long. The characters just pace around, looking stressed. You can practically hear the clock ticking on the wall. It’s awkward, but I think that was the point? Maybe not.

I wouldn't say it’s a masterpiece. It feels a bit like a dusty book you find in an attic. It’s got a weird, specific energy that you don't really find in modern movies anymore. It isn't smooth, and the acting is definitely a product of its time. But hey, it isn't boring. And sometimes, that is enough.

If you liked the slow-burn feeling of The Stranger, you might find something to like here. Just don't go in expecting a thriller. It’s more of a "people making bad choices in rooms" kind of movie. 🎭