Alias Betty aka Betty Fisher and Other Stories (2001/ France) - Betty Fisher et autres histoires 

Directed by Claude Miller (Class Trip)

Starring Sandrine Kiberlain, Nicole Garcia

Adaptations of Ruth Rendell stories are numerous and tend to appeal to French directors in particular. This one stands up well in comparison to most of the others though I do think Chabrol is better at selecting a cast that make a film more memorable.

Filmed in what could be described as a bookish style, the principal characters are seen generally but then expanded upon with their own chapters, a nice touch though not outstandingly original. 

The story revolves around a writer who has recently returned to France from New York, the visit of her (not quite with it) mother and the untimely accidental death of her son. Betty's mother decides she can remedy the problem by heading into the projects (areas such as those that suffered from the recent riots) and stealing a child. She tells Betty that the boy belongs to family friends and that she's taking care of him while the parents go on holiday.

Unsurprisingly the abduction becomes big news and the story brings topics like racism and prejudice to the fore. Betty herself wants nothing to do with the boy at first but gradually becomes attached especially after seeing the bruising that has been inflicted on him. Each of the other principal characters has their own take on the truth and it is quite surprising how easily little things can be misconstrued leading to the wrong conclusions.

The viewer is almost glad that the child is eventually accepted by Betty in the end especially when you witness the type of lifestyle he would have lead. Dangerous ground in a way making such a heinous crime appear acceptable even beneficial. But this is just a story and in the end it's a story (or several stories) about people.

The film successfully juggles the players and their stories leading up to a finale where each part is played out. There is a little predictability about some of the situations, for instance, you feel you know what's going to happen when a petty crook is holding onto a case full of money in an airport but there are also situations where predictability is turned on its head, which certainly adds to the overall story. 

Worth seeing, a successful adaptation of a Ruth Rendell story that stands up well in comparison to those of Chabrol, Almodvar etc.

Cheers Trev.

BBFC rated 15

R2 dvd available from Optimum Releasing, decent enough transfer but an unfortunate lack of extras.