Both Sides of the Blade – REVIEW

Relationships can be complicated, impossible even, especially when love triangles are involved as this French romantic drama depicts.

Sara (Juliette Binoche) is in love with Jean (Vincent Lindon) having lived with him for 10 years. Previously she’d been in a relationship with Francois (Gregoire Colin) a friend of Jean. One afternoon after many years she has glimpse of Francois who coincidentally has offered Jean a job at his sporting agency.

Should he accept the job? Jean warns her that she’ll probably see Francois again if he accepts, “But he and I are over,” she responds. Her mixed emotions are predictably rekindled as the urgency to have him back in her life accelerates, and audiences should feel the sexual intensity between them heightening.

This is the fractured story about illicit love and betrayal, which leads to an explosion of emotions.

Binoche delivers another powerful performance as the woman who is trapped emotionally and obsessed,  feeling a burgeoning and uncontrollable passion for both men. Her agony is perceived as she ultimately tries to rationalize Jean’s comment that she’s a fake, a liar and a slut.

Both Sides Of The Blade is the thought provoking exploration of a relationship gone wayward, that may leave audiences asking whether it’s comprehensible that Sara should be absolutely culpable for her infidelity.

A question raised is why did Jean accept the job knowing that she’d eventually cross paths with Francoise again? Sara constantly and excruciatingly asked after Francois – was this not a red flag for Jean that her feelings for Francois were resurrected and perhaps even escalating?

Ultimately was it fair that she was the recipient of such mental turmoil from both men in the final scenes?

Audiences can decide.

✭✭✭1/2

In Cinemas September 1