La Cérémonie
This 1995 domestic thriller from French director <PERSON> is centered on a trio of sharp performances: <PERSON> as a rich mother and wife, <PERSON> as her new maid, and <PERSON> as the town postmistress, who becomes the maid’s best friend. They’re two women with secrets, and the hints of what they’re capable of, coupled with the casual indicators and subtle subtext of class separation between them and <PERSON>’s rich family, make much of the running time play like a ticking time bomb; even in scenes of amiable chit-chat and offhand exposition, the compositions and editing tempo are just a little bit off, creating an unease that permeates the picture. 285