The Swindle

Isabelle Huppert and Michel Serrault in The Swindle

Claude Chabrol's The Swindle, from 1997, is, for the director, a relatively spritely story about two con artists. Elizabeth (Isabelle Huppert) and Victor (Michel Serrault) work a honey trap swindle, preying on conventioneers who have let their guard down while on holiday. They operate out of a Winnebago, quickly escaping to the next scam when they have made their score. They run into trouble when Elizabeth targets Maurice (Francois Cluzet) who carries large sums of money for the mob. This proves to be a greater challenge than the wayward duo are used to and they soon face real danger.

After the heavy melodramatics of L'enfer and La Ceremonie, it would appear Chabrol wanted to tackle something less brooding. All three leads had worked for the director before and their easy rapport is the chief pleasure of the film. Huppert appears to be having a ball. This is the most playful of her numerous appearances in Chabrol's films and it is a hoot. Her affinity with Serrault is obvious and he handles his role with aplomb. On set, Chabrol was a spontaneous director who eschewed storyboarding and chose not to burden his cast and crew with numerous takes. On his more somber efforts, this had the effect of sometimes causing scenes to seem amateurish and hurried. This is particularly true when he attempts to ape the action and suspense sequences of his hero, Hitchcock. However, the speed and lightness of touch with which he worked are ideal for a project like The Swindle. 

The Swindle's French title is Rien Ne Va Plus, literally "nothing goes anymore". It is what the croupier says to close off the betting at his gambling table. Like a con man himself, Chabrol pulls a few sleights of hand on his audience. We don't know the exact nature of Elizabeth and Victor's relationship until we are well into the film and I am not going to play the spoiler. Eduardo Serra's cinematography takes advantage of the location shooting in Switzerland and Guadalupe. This is one of Chabrol's best looking and audience pleasing films.