Film Review - The Origin of Evil
Images courtesy of Potential Films.
“Family’s the worst. It’s poison in your blood. A contamination that makes you sick”. Stéphane walks into the lion’s den of toxic families.
The Origin of Evil (2022), originally L’Origine Du Mal, is a twisted French drama and thriller directed by Sébastien Marnier that investigates the insidious wealth of the Dumontet family. The Origin of Evil won the 2023 Narrative Feature award at the Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival.
Recently released from prison and working at a fish cannery, Stéphane (Nathalie Cordier) desires connection in her life and reconnects with her estranged father Serge Dumontet (Jacques Weber). Serge, a successful businessman since 21, lives in a mansion by the sea with trophy wife Louise (Dominique Blanc), daughter George (Doria Tillier), granddaughter Jeanne (Céleste Brunnquell), and maid Agnès (Véronique Ruggia). Kicked out by her landlady and on the verge of homelessness, Stéphane takes refuge at the Dumontet residence. In walks Stéphane, the perfect “daddy’s girl” —a little too perfect considering Serge didn’t pay child support. The women of the family soon suspect Stéphane of having ulterior motives.
The main complaint that I have with this film is that Serge’s relationship with Stéphane is perverted. When Serge and Stéphane first meet, he asks, “Are you disappointed?”. Stéphane replies, “No (…) you’re very handsome”, suggesting that Stéphane values the attractiveness of her long-lost father. Louise also inappropriately discusses with Stéphane how “erotic” her father used to be. From the beginning, Stéphane and Serge’s interactions are full of innuendo. Unlike the other women in the family, Stéphane has physical intimacy with Serge, resting her head on him when they sit together on a couch later in the film. Most uncomfortable, Serge intentionally walks in on Stéphane when she is naked in the bath. The relationship Stéphane and Serge have can only be described as Freudian.
Some scenes in The Origin of Evil border on fetishising women. Only one minute and thirty seconds into the film we see a camera unnecessarily pause on the breast of a woman changing in a locker room; the only actor visibly topless in this scene. This added no substance to the plot. Refer back to the aforementioned bathtub scene. Need I say more? The Origin of Evil may pass the Bechdel test, but Marnier’s objectification of women is problematic. The sexual imagery in this film isn’t surprising considering that during his university studies, Marnier focused on the pornographic film genre.
Weird sexual tones aside, this is a great film. There were moments when I rooted for each of the characters and others where I despised each of them. The plot is a page-turner, and the visuals of the feature are vibrant and highly engaging. I can guarantee that you won’t fall asleep watching this! Filling a whole mansion with tchotchkes and taxidermy, the set dressing team have made the interior design version of an I Spy book. The costuming, particularly for Louise, is visually striking. There’s nothing quite like a loud leopard print to introduce a character!
For those of you who are pro lesbian rights and pro lesbian wrongs, The Origin of Evil is the perfect Friday night French flick with all the lesbians, major plot twists, and tea you need!
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The Origin of Evil is screening in cinemas from Thursday October 19th. For tickets and more info, click here.