Like Chabrol's other works, it's an engaging story of human relationships, where not everything is as it first appears, and the audience's perceptions of both the man and the woman change as more is revealed about them. This particular story is told from the point of a view of a slightly cruel, but generally decent, and highly realistic man. My lone complaint is that the first 45 minutes are slow and lack content, before kicking it into high gear. Overall though, it's a good, thoughtful film.