The film stars Paul Gégauff as Philippe a sweet talking but cruel and egotistical man who belittles his mouse-like docile wife Esther (Danièle Gegauff) every chance he gets. One evening before one of the house parties they hold in their country home Philippe encourages his wife to sleep with another man. She takes him up on it and from that moment she begins to be an independent minded woman; a fact that drives him crazy.

When they move to the city Esther becomes even more independent and Philippe is faced with a crumbling marriage, which he basically encouraged in the first place. And in time he finds ways to embarrass, belittle and beat her until she is dependent again.

The film was directed in 1975 just after Chabrol's strongest period, which included such films as La Boucher, Le Biches, This Man Must Die and La Rupture (all of which are available on DVD from Pathfinder). And while this one is not as good as those films it is still a worthy film about the anguish that the bourgeois bring on themselves as well as a comment on the primitive nature of violence that lurks under the perfect bourgeois veneer.

Pleasure Party ('Une partie de plaisir' in French) is often a tough film to watch because it is fairly easy to see where it is going and what will happen. And this being a Chabrol film each scene builds toward the crime with the precision of a metronome. It is also difficult to associate with any of the characters. In a good number of Chabrol films [he's directed over 70 films] there is at least one likable character who we can connect with on some level. In this film the only thing to connect with is the filmmaker and his style – all if which is good but not enough to make the film entirely enjoyable or satisfying. Maybe that's the point – you be the judge.

Video:
The DVD is presented in an aspect ratio of 1:66 to 1 although it seems like it should be 1.85:1 from the credit sequence, which is chopped a bit at the edges. The film quality is average and shows its age. The colors are muted and dark and a lot of scenes are shot indoors. There has been no restoration work done on the print. The subtitles can be removed.

Audio:
The film is in French Mono and sounds okay.

Extras:
The extras are above average. First is a commentary track by critic Dan Yakir and screenwriter Ric Menello. They talk the entire length of the film and are have a very analytical and insightful take on the film. In fact, this is (after La Rupture) the best commentary track I've heard on a Chabrol film, which is too bad because this isn't one of his best. The other extra is a 45 minute audio interview with Claude Chabrol from 1977 done by Dan Yakir. The interview is presented with subtitles and background images from the movie, which change every 4 minutes or so.

Final Thoughts:
Pleasure Party is a somewhat dated but effective French film by French master Claude Chabrol. Although it is not one of his better films it does have the ability to have a lasting impression on anyone who sees it; especially for a three notable scenes. The extras are modest in number but very good and informative. Overall a good tough film and a good DVD that is recommended because of the extras.