Alias Betty
Release Date:
September 13, 2002
Limited release
This French film is based on the novel The Tree of Hands by Ruth Rendell. Its original title, Betty Fisher et Autres Histoires, translates to Betty Fisher and Other Stories. However, the marketing gurus thought Alias Betty might be a bit snappier. Claude Miller, a protégé of famed director François Truffaut, takes care of both the directing duties and writing the screenplay.
This psychological thriller follows the life of Betty Fisher (Sandrine Kiberlain), a successful and reclusive best-selling author. She becomes deeply depressed when her son, Joseph, dies suddenly and tragically. Her mother, Margot (Nicole Garcia), who suffers from a blood disorder that can affect her judgment, decides to "help" her daughter's situation. She has a little boy, Jose, kidnapped to take Joseph's place.
At first, Betty is outraged and vows to return Jose to his unloving and abusive mother Carole (Mathilde Seigner). However, her maternal instincts take over and she finds herself making up stories to keep him with her. Meanwhile, Carole's boyfriend, François (Luck Mervil), is the prime suspect in the case and he's determined to clear his name.
Reviews of this movie say that Miller does an excellent job keeping the various storylines intertwined, but not confused. Since having its world premiere at the 2001 Montreal World Film Festival, this movie has won quite a few awards. They have mostly been for the outstanding acting work of Garcia, Kiberlain, and Seigner. (Marty Doskins/BOP)
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