Jean Cocteau, who liked Le Silence de la mer, asked Melville to adapt his famous novel about the incestuous games of adolescent siblings Elisabeth and Paul. Featuring Cocteau’s inimitable voice-over, Henri Deca”s photography and a fantastic baroque music score, this poetic chamber piece was initially controversial, partly on account of Edouard Dermithe’s performance as Paul. It has since acquired classic status, and many agree with François Truffaut that ‘Cocteau’s best novel has become Melville’s best film.’ ()