Second World War. Marie is a young housewife and mother of two whose husband returned from the war unable to work. After she helps her neighbour terminate an unwanted pregnancy, Marie decides to perform illicit abortions against money to support her struggling family, leading to dire consequences.

Claude Chabrol’s acclaimed drama once again sees Isabelle Huppert excel at playing tragic and unlikable women who still elicit visceral sympathy. Tackling a true story amid a shameful chapter in French history, the film’s chillingly unsentimental outlook only enhances its authentic complexities.