Dir: Thierry Klifa. France. 2025. 121mins
Thierry Klifa’s latest film The Richest Woman In The World is clearly inspired by the life of L’Oreal heir Francoise Bettencourt but here she is called Marianne Farrere.
Isabelle Huppert is at her steely best as the business woman. The sarcasm flows from her immaculate red lips in a droll psycho-drama that finds her giving away millions to a glib stylist and photographer Pierre Alain. (inspired by the original character Francois-Marie Banier).
The opportunistic Pierre Alain knows how to boost Marianne’s ego and she flirts back flattered by the attentions of a younger man whose shame-faced arrogance piques her latent desire to be dominated. Curiously, despite her business savvy Marianne never sees through the putative swindler who falls foul of the rest of the family and staff with his bumptious cheek. Money is no object to the heiress she wants to be entertained and adored.
Needless to say her husband Guy (Marcon), daughter Frederique (Fois), son in law (Demy) and butler (Personnaz) behave impeccably, turning the other cheek. Although the butler (Personnaz) rises to the bait on one occasion. Frederique then decides decides enough is enough.
French director Thierry Klifa creates a tragedy of epic proportions about a family besieged by an interloper, all set in and around a fabulous art nouveau villa in the Cote D’Azur. This is an entertaining and often jaw-dropping storyline that will appeal to those who enjoy a juicy saga about a dynasty brought to its knees by a chancer.
Laurent Lafitte is perfectly cast as the coarse and puppy-like narcissist Pierre-Alain who tramples on everyone’s toes except those of his client who he cuddles and cajoles while unscrupulously demanding money, which she gives without question. Marina Fois is quietly impressive as Marianne’s tragic daughter, and never was a daughter so maligned and sidelined as in this story co-written by Klifa and Cedric Anger.
Marianne and Pierre-Alain enjoy a flirty relationship that is never hint at sexuality, he has his own lover. What Marianne wants is passion and playfulness and Lafitte serves it up in spades, while we, the audience, look on in horror waiting for Pierre-Alain’s ulterior motives to shock even further.
Klifa offers up an insightful and stylish drama with sumptuous settings and impressive performances from a talented cast. @MeredithTaylor
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2025