The Page Turner

By: Denis Blot

DVD Features Video: 1.85:1 Audio: French Dolby Digital 5.1 French DTS 5.1 Trailer Making Of Documentary Theatrical release: 8/09/2006 DVD released on 7/10/2007 by Tartan Video Running time of 85 minutes Starring: Catherine Frot, Déborah François, Pascal Greggory Director: Denis Dercourt Plot: Mélanie Prouvost, a ten-year-old butcher’s daughter, is a gifted piano player. That is why her parents and herself decide that she sit for the Conservatory entrance exam. Mélanie is very likely to be admitted, unfortunately she gets distracted by the president of the jury’s offhand attitude and she fails. Ten years later, Mélanie becomes the former president of the jury’s page turner, waiting patiently to be revenged…

Having your dreams/ambitions dashed away by a chance event is for many the most devastating thing that can happen to them. For athletes it’s the pulled or torn muscle just prior to a championship game or an Olympic event, for professional musicians it’s nervousness causing poor playing at a make or break career concert and for amateurs it is a mistake at an audition to a prominent music school. Some take the bad luck in stride; there will be other games, other concerts, rising above it to continue in pursuit of their dreams. However there are others who can’t continue, choosing to fester and brood over the moment their hopes were crushed. What becomes of one of these people is evident in the character of Melanie in the French thriller “The Page Turner”.

Deborah Francis plays the adult Melanie, who ten years before lost her opportunity to enter a prestigious music school. She takes on employment as a nanny for the child of Madame Fouchecourt, a famous pianist who was a judge at her audition and who broke her concentration ultimately causing her to fail. Melanie’s quiet slight movements and intensity expressed through the eyes of an austere face conveys a suspicious character that is ill at ease and ultimately generates a tension in the film that is propagated by the flow of music or lack there of.

Catherine Frost who plays the pianist is an unbalanced character. She is talented yet fearful of failure, guarded and desires support. She finds that support in Melanie’s role as her part time page turner. The relationship between the two characters will leave the viewer on edge waiting to see if and when Melanie will pull away the crutch.

The DVD extras are minimal, comprised of a trailer and a thirty-minute making of documentary. The documentary is worth viewing for those interested in filmmaking as it has an abundance of on set coverage and the director is very vocal about his perception of the film and why and how he chose to convey it.

“The Page Turner” sets a level of suspense and tension early on and continues to slowly build upon it throughout the film. The film plays with the viewer, offering scenes where you think you know what’s coming only to deny your expectation. It is a well-written and well-acted thriller.

Reviewer’s Opinion: RENT IT!!