Secret Things
Secret Things (French: Choses secrètes) is a 2002 French erotic drama film written and directed by Jean-Claude Brisseau.[1] The story centers on two unemployed young women, the street-smart stripper Nathalie (Coralie Revel) and the naïve bartender Sandrine (Sabrina Seyvecou), who form an alliance to exploit male desire for professional advancement in Paris's financial sector.[2] Their scheme targets a reclusive banking executive, blending seduction, manipulation, and eventual betrayal in a narrative inspired by Marquis de Sade's works.[1] The film premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and garnered significant attention for its unflinching depiction of sexual dynamics and power imbalances, earning praise from French critics as the best film of 2002 by Les Cahiers du Cinéma.[3] Internationally, it holds mixed reception, with a 52% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on limited reviews highlighting its provocative themes but critiquing narrative coherence.[2] Brisseau's direction emphasizes raw eroticism and psychological intensity, drawing from his history of exploring feminine sexuality, though the explicit content—including numerous nude scenes and simulated acts—has sparked debates over artistic merit versus exploitation.[4] Controversies include the director's later legal troubles unrelated to the film, yet Secret Things remains a polarizing entry in European cinema for its unapologetic examination of ambition through carnal means, eschewing moralistic framing.[5]Production
Development and pre-production
Jean-Claude Brisseau developed Secret Things (Choses secrètes) as an original screenplay centered on the rise of female desire and its use as a tool for social and professional advancement, analogizing it to Alfred Hitchcock's cinematic depiction of fear's escalation. He stated, "Je voulais filmer la montée du désir chez la femme, comme Hitchcock l’a fait avec la peur."[6] The project encountered financial hurdles that prolonged its timeline, with pre-production activities spanning from 1996 to 2001.[6] Brisseau emphasized technical and performative authenticity in erotic sequences, conducting prolonged research into filming methods due to his self-described obsession: "J’étais obsédé par la façon de filmer. J’ai cherché pendant longtemps." Pre-production included auditions for approximately 20 young actresses, where participants were required to exhibit genuine sexual arousal—through solo or mutual acts such as masturbation, sometimes in non-private settings and without cameras—to verify their ability to convey unfeigned pleasure, as Brisseau insisted, "Il tenait absolument à ce que l’on ait une vraie jouissance." This process informed casting selections and scene preparation.[6] The film was produced on a modest budget by Brisseau alongside Jean-François Geneix, reflecting his independent approach to mise-en-scène amid resource constraints. Themes of desire, power dynamics, and female emancipation drew from Brisseau's ongoing cinematic interests, positioning Secret Things as a culmination of his examinations into sexuality's intersection with class and authority.[7]Casting and filming
The principal roles in Secret Things were filled by relatively unknown actresses Coralie Revel, who portrayed the street-smart stripper Nathalie, and Sabrina Seyvecou, who played the more naïve barmaid Sandrine.[8] Director Jean-Claude Brisseau opted for non-professional performers in the erotic sequences rather than established adult film actors, emphasizing naturalism in the depictions of sexuality.[8] Supporting roles included Roger Mirmont as the executive Delacroix, Fabrice Deville as his son Christophe, and Blandine Bury as Charlotte, with Brisseau handling the screenplay, direction, and co-production alongside Jean-François Geneix.[9] Filming occurred primarily in Paris and the nearby suburb of Santeny in Val-de-Marne, France, during 2001, capturing urban settings that underscored the characters' ambitions and manipulations within a corporate and nightlife milieu. Cinematographer Wilfrid Sempé handled the visuals, employing a mix of intimate close-ups and broader establishing shots to blend eroticism with dramatic tension, while editor Maria-José Alcala assembled the 115-minute runtime.[8] Production was managed under Brisseau's Les Aventuriers de l'Image banner, with support from France's Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC).[10] The explicit scenes required careful choreography to align with Brisseau's vision of unfiltered sexual power dynamics, though specifics on rehearsal processes remain undocumented in available production records.[8]Director's legal issues
In 2002, Jean-Claude Brisseau was investigated following complaints from three aspiring actresses who alleged that during auditions for Secret Things between 1996 and 2001, he coerced them into performing sexual acts, including masturbation, under the guise of evaluating their suitability for erotic roles.[11] The women claimed Brisseau exploited his authority as director, pressuring them in private sessions without other witnesses present.[12] Brisseau, then aged 60, denied the allegations of harassment and sexual assault, maintaining that the auditions involved consensual "erotic tests" essential to casting performers for the film's explicit content, and that the actresses were informed of the nature of the sessions.[13] He argued he did not abuse his position, as the requirements aligned with the project's demands.[11] The case proceeded to trial in Paris in November 2005, where Brisseau faced charges of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and fraud. On December 13, 2005, the court acquitted him of sexual assault and fraud but convicted him of harassment against two of the complainants, citing abuse of authority in the professional context.[13] He received a one-year suspended prison sentence, a 15,000 euro fine, and was ordered to pay 7,500 euros in damages to each of the two women.[13] Brisseau appealed the ruling but ultimately served no prison time.Plot
Secret Things (original title: Les Choses secrètes), directed by Jean-Claude Brisseau, centers on two ambitious young women navigating power dynamics through sexuality in a Parisian corporate environment. The story begins at a strip club where Nathalie (Coralie Revel), a confident exotic dancer, and Sandrine (Sabrina Seyvecou), a reserved new bartender from the suburbs, work together. After both are fired—Nathalie for her attitude and Sandrine for rejecting advances from patrons—they become roommates, forging a close bond that evolves into a sexual relationship. Nathalie, reveling in exhibitionism, introduces Sandrine to the pleasures and power of sexual transgression, teaching her that such acts can serve as a weapon for social ascent.[14][15] Determined to exploit their allure for advancement, the duo devises a scheme to infiltrate a prestigious private bank. Sandrine secures a secretarial position and methodically seduces influential figures, beginning with the elderly co-founder Jérôme Delacroix (Roger Mirmont), using dominance and submission to gain leverage over him. Nathalie soon joins the firm, escalating their ambitions toward Christophe (Fabrice Deville), the arrogant heir to the company and a self-indulgent libertine with masochistic tendencies. The women compete and collaborate in their pursuit, employing blackmail, sabotage, and erotic manipulation amid corporate rivalries involving Christophe's sister Charlotte (Blandine Bury).[14][15] Narrated in voice-over by Sandrine with detached irony, the plot unfolds as a web of intrigue blending office politics, betrayal, and explicit encounters, culminating in ironic reversals that underscore the perils of their strategy. Brisseau structures the narrative like a modern fable of ambition, drawing parallels to corporate ladder-climbing thrillers while emphasizing psychological and erotic elements.[14]Cast
- Coralie Revel as Nathalie, a street-wise stripper.[16]
- Sabrina Seyvecou as Sandrine, a naïve barmaid.[16]
- Roger Miremont as Delacroix, a middle-aged executive.[16]
- Fabrice Deville as Christophe, Delacroix's son.[16]
- Blandine Bury as Charlotte, Christophe's girlfriend.[16]