Novelle Vague director Jacques Rivette’s NE TOCHEZ PAS LA HACHE (or Don’t touch the Axe), based on the Balzac short story LA DUCHESSE DE LANGEAIS is a subtle romance, part comedy part tragedy kept to its original form.  The story evolves around the pair, the Duchess, Antoinette (Jeanne Balibar) and General Armand de Montriveau (Guillaume Depardieu, son of Gerard) set in 1820’s Paris.  Antoinette seduces the general in a series of mind games.  He is at first smitten.  But convinced that he has found his true love, he persists while continually rejected. When Montriveau finally seeks revenge, Antoinette relents, but it might be too late. 

Rivette’s film is solid on period details from the props, costumes and music.  Though the film looks a bit dated in its setting, the game of love is still as relevant then as it is today.  NE TOUCHEZ PAS LA HACHE takes a while before getting a solid footing – it feels at times that Rivette is trying too hard to keep to Balzac’s original text - but the wait is well worth it.  Rivette’s staple actor Michel Piccoli has a respectable cameo as Antoinette’s uncle who gives her advice.

Rivette is one of my most respected still living French directors.  From his OUT SPECRTRE to LA BELLE NOISEUSE to the recent VA SAVOIR, his films never fail to impress.  Though this one is not his best work, LA HACHE is definitely worth a look.

Film has a limited one week run at the Royal, Toronto.