Violette Nozière

Violette Nozière is a 1978 French-Canadian biographical crime drama directed by Claude Chabrol. Based on Jean-Marie Fritère's book of the same name, the film reconstructs a notorious real-life case from 1933 France. Eighteen-year-old Violette (Isabelle Huppert) lives a double life: by day she appears to be an ordinary daughter, while at night she drifts into prostitution and relationships with older men. She is ultimately accused of poisoning her parents in order to claim their inheritance, a crime that scandalized the country. Chabrol shapes the affair into a psychological portrait set against the social climate of the interwar years.

Stéphane Audran, Jean Carmet and Bernadette Lafont co-star. Huppert's performance earned her the Best Actress award at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival.