AKA: You Will Be Mine; Je Te Mangerais
DVD review (region 2)
Directed by Sophie Laloy
Starring Judith Davis, Isild Le Besco, Cecile Laloy
Release date 29 March 2010

An aspiring pianist moves in with an old friend and gets more than she bargained for...

Judith Davis plays Marie, an aspiring pianist who moves to Lyon to stay with a childhood friend, Emma (Le Besco), who she hasn’t seen in years. What begins as a simple reigniting of an old friendship, soon turns into something else, as Emma begins to display feelings for Marie, eventually turning into the flatmate from hell as her desire spirals out of control and becomes more than Marie can handle.

A standard Single White Female scenario is given an arthouse slant and a touch of class thanks to the graceful direction from first time French director, Sophie Laloy. However, while elegantly crafted and exceptionally performed by the two leads, there’s nothing entirely new and innovative about this good-looking psychosexual drama.

Far more subtle and restrained than many of its garish American predecessors, Highly Strung doesn’t exactly go all out with boiled bunny rabbits and bathroom knife fights. Indeed, Laloy’s film is less Fatal Attraction and more The Page Turner in its execution, so those expecting a brash and bloody tale of twisted revenge will be sorely disappointed.

Still, with plenty of chemistry between the delectable Le Besco and Davis, Highly Strung is certainly easy on the eyes. Lee Griffiths

VERDICT: 6/10
A beautifully shot psychological thriller that boasts exceptional performances from its two leads.