in this chabrolesque psychological thriller and francois ozon and pose some difficult question about the nature of the creative process through the character of successful english crime writer sarah morton and play brilliantly by charlotte rampling . unable to find sufficient motivation to pen her late crime book and her editor and ex lover and john bosload ( charles dance ) lease his french country house to her in the luberon region to reignite her creative urge . at first the change of scenery do sarah good until john unknown french daughter and julie ( ludivine sagnier ) and rudely interrupt the idyllic atmosphere . the film then explore the tense relationship between the uptight englishwoman and the free floating but sex mad julie but thing be never quite what they seem . we be constantly lull by the seductive scenery and the sly camera work sometimes suggest a hidden agenda be at play well not so hidden in franck case . the film be nearly perfect . the acting be excellent and the music be haunt and evocative . unfortunately and the film lose focus in the last third where a convoluted murder disrupts proceeding . although the end might be a shock for many it be and in my opinion and an audacious turn on ozon behalf rather than a cop out . i can understand it might annoy many viewer but the film tease scenario and i believe and predetermine the end and any careful viewer would not have felt rob by the fact julie be not real after all . the end and though and throw more question than the film answer . if there be a puzzle to be solve and i do not think repeat viewing would achieve this while rather and it feel like an open end mystery . a mystery to savor rather than solve .