I thought from the trailer that this was going to be a very passionate tale about a girl stuck with a horrific husband who falls for his best friend and a murder is then committed and covered up but that we would still be rooting for the lovers. Now that was pretty much what it was about but i just expected a lot more passion than there actually was and her husband wasn't horrific at all he was actually a really nice guy who is very unwell. Now i did feel for Therese getting stuck with marrying her sickly cousin but the outcome was undeserved and rather sad but yeah i know that is the point and that is the reason the story goes where it goes, however I definitely didn't end up rooting for the lovers. They actually ended up really annoying me when their relationship turned so quickly. The film did manage to powerfully support the saying 'be careful what you wish for' though. I won't lie, i mostly just watched this for Oscar Isacc and yes he is good as usual but also a bit bland as is Elizabeth Olson. Jessica Lange started off well but she then started overacting just like she did during her last stint on American Horror Story, Shirley Henderson was also very irritating. Definitely worth a watch though if you enjoy period dramas but this probably won't be one that i revisit. I will however be reading the book at some point in the hope of finding the passion that i expected to be present.

I chose to watch In Secret because of the cast, in particular Elizabeth Olsen who may turn out to be the Meryl Streep of her generation. The cast did not disappoint; they were all excellent. I was engrossed by the film, given the turn of events in the plot. What I didn't care for was the predictable way the film unfolded, after the murder of Camille. I wished that it didn't go the way of "morality", i.e., I wanted Therese and Laurent to live happily ever after. I felt, after all, that Therese had already paid her dues, assuming one must, which given the ending I would assume the writers of the film think is so. She already had paid hers; her life until Laurent was not great; she suffered enough deprivation and indignities. But the film had to take the "high road." It would have been quite different if they had gotten away with the murder and then run away, leaving Jessica Lange's character to be looked after by others. But no, moral human being that Therese was, she was destroyed by her guilt. Laurent, not so much, but he followed Therese, both in feeling and action. Too bad...

Paris during a past century. A woman is slowly dying in a loveless marriage but what can she do? She accepts her fate and goes on until the possibility of romance and passion comes her way. Then everything changes and she becomes prepared to do the unthinkable, but is the man she has fallen for a better bet than the husband for whim she has no love?The location and costumes gave it an aura of authenticity as well as having a very potent storyline makes for an intriguing viewing experience. The let down comes from the fact that it is Hollywood making an epoch film. The way the characters are introduced and the plot develops is way too fast to create the impact it should."In secret" is a very poignant title, all evolving around a woman. She is drowning in her marriage...in secret, she meets and falls for another man...in secret, she goes out of her depth to be free of her husband and be with the one she loves...in secret. When the secret is revealed, the whole situation collapses like a pack of cards.

In Secret (2013) is a French film directed by Charlie Stratton, who also wrote the screenplay. The movie is based on a play, which, in turn, was based on Emile Zola's novel Thérèse Raquin. The film is set in 1860's Paris. (Filmed in Belgrade, where the narrow shop-lined streets still exist.) Elizabeth Olsen plays the title character. She is an orphan, raised by her aunt with the primary purpose of providing her cousin with a suitable wife. Her cousin Camille, played well by Tom Felton, is sickly and inadequate in many ways, including his sexual abilities. Thérèse finds herself trapped in a marriage that's not only loveless, but also sexless. She lives with her husband in the same household with her domineering mother- in-law Madame Raquin, played by Jessica Lange.Into the mix comes the handsome Lauent (Oscar Isaac). The sexual attraction between Laurent and Thérèse is instant and demands consummation. That's the basic plot. Whether you enjoy the rest of the movie depends on your thoughts about what happens after Thérèse and Laurent meet.I liked this film on several levels. It looks and feels real--we know this isn't Paris, and the shop owned by Madame Raquin is a set, but they have an authentic feel to them.The actors are all seasoned professionals, and they perform extremely well. And, the plot--while not exactly original--captures your interest and attention to the end.We saw this movie at the excellent Little Theatre in Rochester. It will work better on the large screen than the small, but it will still be worth seeing on DVD. I recommend it.