The Pact of Silence
March 2004 Reviewed by: Anthony Di Marco Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

I don't expect a film to spoonfeed me plot points or whack me over the head with abstract ideas. I do expect a film to deliver its story in a clear, compelling, and logical manner. The Pact of Silence belongs in the company of countless films that start with a compelling idea only to collapse into an illogical mess.

The story starts out well. I was immediately pulled into the plot's mystery. A nun collapses, a prisoner nearly dies in a fire, and a priest reveals himself as not only a man of the cloth, but also a man of science -- a doctor. Gerard Depardieu's considerable charisma is undeniable. His puppy-dog face and subtle mannerisms make him a joy to watch in close-up. Elodie Bouchez is equally mesmerizing in the role of twin sisters. And the sexual tension between the two characters adds to a profound sense of anticipation.

You know there will be fireworks between Father Joachim and Gaelle, but you don't quite know how the relationship will build. Both are split personalities: The priest’s faith in God conflicts with his belief in science, and Gaelle’s toughness contrasts with her sister Sarah's frailty. I found this aspect of the film most appealing. Had the filmmakers centered on Joachim's struggle to help Gaelle and Sarah, and not the romance between the two, then the film might have been more successful. Instead, the half-hearted romance feels forced, and the sexual tension, so prevalent at the beginning of the film, gives way to a convoluted finale. It felt like the producers either ran out of money or simply did not know how to end the film. The similarities to Hitchcock’s Vertigo seem thrown in for the sake of effect.

I have no ambivalence when it comes to the technical quality of this DVD. The high-definition video transfer is stunning. The rendition of skin tones and light is the most natural I have yet to see on DVD. Patrick Blossier's cinematography is wonderfully detailed and completely free of excessive filtering or showy camerawork. Close-ups reveal every wrinkle of flesh, without taking away from the actors’ glamour. If you want to see beautiful, organic pictures jump off the screen, The Pact of Silence is the perfect reference.

Audio is equally stellar, but not because it shocks the ear. Like all well-executed sound design, this soundtrack serves its images. The crisp effervescence of the audio mix complements the punch of each image. This gives the film a very palpable, persistent quality, as if I was sitting on a park bench witnessing the action in person. This is a textbook example of how powerful a film's soundtrack can be without resorting to aural hype. The film is in French, with easy-to-read English subtitles.

Special features should be called "Special Feature." The lone non-filler extra is a mediocre commentary by Bouchez and director Graham Guit. I found some of their comments interesting, but mostly devoid of any insight. It felt like there was little, if any, preparation.

In the end, The Pact of Silence offers its audience an interesting concept. It has a tough time convincing due to an implausible conclusion, although Columbia TriStar’s DVD is a technical triumph.

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