More Arsenic, Dear?

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday August 24, 1998

Doug Anderson

FILM OF THE WEEK

TATIE DANIELLE (1990), SBS, 9.30pm

WHEN relatives of 70-something Mrs Danielle Billards offer to take her to live in their Paris home, she jumps at the chance. Little do the Billards family realise they have opened their hearts to the Aunt From Hell.

Danielle's a stinger! Cynical and bitter, she relishes her chance to tyrannise and humiliate the family.

Such is the power of her venomous behaviour, the family is obliged to flee to Greece for a summer holiday. But unable to abandon the Machiavellian old crone to her own devices, they scout around for a minder. Mrs Doubtfire is unavailable, but they convince a sullen 24-year-old to take on the task.

Sandrine (Isabelle Nanty) is a self-centred woman with her own agenda and totally impervious to the manipulative bitchery of her charge. It's not exactly irresistible force and immovable object, but there is a collision of wills, and the energy released illuminates a very funny and acerbic film.

What makes it unusual is a refusal to sentimentalise an old woman. She's as devious an alien invader as ever took on a docile family and laid waste to it. Would that she could be sooled on to some of the icky families trotted out by the Disney assembly line.

She's a spoilt, vindictive old crone who keeps herself alive by game-playing and winning. She's greedy and is not above using pity or the media in service of her agenda.

Little do the Billiards family suspect that the stop-gap measure of hiring Sandrine will turn the situation around. Sandrine simply calls Tatie's bluff. It's more than attitude over temperament and more than a victory for generational irony over venom.

And like a tease denied the elicited response, Danielle finds her vindictive energy turned back on itself like Perseus reflecting the deadly visage of the gorgon.

Tsilla Chelton delivers an irresistible portrait of the acidic septuagenarian, extracting from the mildewed malice, tremendous heart and subtle insights. Maybe she is as wise and childlike as elderly characters in other more "refined" films. But her survival tactics make some sense and give a luscious sting to a sad and funny, refractory and ultimately sweet film.