Back from Kandara,Africa, where he failed,André Barret is a teacher in a small town,Meaux. His wife and his mother-him-law always put him down,for he does not make much money and they live in a seedy flat. A Murder is committed in an attic room near his place .Shortly after,a mysterious guy comes to him ,claiming he needs grammar and spelling lessons to take an exam .But you should not go by appearances and this man soon becomes an enemy. Does he woo his wife? Or does he know too many things about him ,better left unsaid?
This is the only movie Russian director working in Germany Victor Vicas made in France ;His mise en scène is rather flat ,but there are two great actors, François Périer and Daniel Gélin:the movie rests on their shoulders and their relationship is disturbing and gripping ; Bella Darvi,Darryl Zanuck 's protégée , is a pretty but limited actress ,and is not really able to show the ambiguousness her character demands.
The African part remains vague and its connection with the present life is rather thin and unsubstantial ; a very young Patrick Dewaere appears as the little pupil .The thriller side is subpar and downright implausible in its last part ;but you would not miss a film with Périer and Gélin : watch it for them!
