Madame Hyde

Mrs. Hyde is the second time Isabelle Huppert has worked with director Serge Bozon after the murder mystery comedy Tip Top (2012). Another showcase of her abilities to go beyond the tough ice-queen of the film d'auteur image she perfected and that audiences love. She literally twinkles in this loose, low-key version of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Bozon replaces the original drugs, guilt and hubris with a shy high-school science teacher who develops a lively personality after being struck by lightning. She can now face her rebellious and condescending pupils, and even inspires the most promising one.

Above all, the film forgets the original Victorian horror and sports a unique tone, with deadpan, droll and quirky moments, or even physics lessons taught in real time. Mrs. Hyde also has a deeper layer, because its weird comedy conceals a sharp criticism of an inane high-school system which specifically curtails non-white classes.