Short Cuts: La Ceremonie (1996)

This was my first Claude Chabrol film and I can't wait to see more. Based on Ruth Rendell's superb crime novel, A Judgement in Stone, Chabrol's film faithfully translates the story to modern-day France and dissects the class struggle buried there in ruthless style. The lead roles by Sandrine Bonnaire (Vagabond), Isabelle Huppert (The Piano Teacher, Time of the Wolf), and Jacqueline Bisset (Day for Night, Le Magnifique) are all excellent and elevate the film into the realm of sublimity. Chilling stuff.