Thérèse Raquin (1928)

The paralyzed Madame Raquin owns a small shop in Paris. She once came from the provinces to the French capital so that her beloved son Camille might one day have a better life. The orphan Thérèse is his cousin and grew up in her aunt’s home. Eventually, Thérèse becomes Camille’s wife. But the lively young woman is unhappy with Camille, a sickly, weak, and rather dull office clerk. She does not love him. One day, Camille brings home an old friend from his youth, the painter Laurent. He is Camille’s exact opposite: impulsive and full of life, brimming with strength and defiant, but also somewhat coarse and brutal. Thérèse’s passion is quickly kindled, and Laurent becomes her lover. During an outing together, the two murder Camille and disguise the crime as an accident. After some time, the murderous couple marry and henceforth live under the same roof as Camille’s mother, who is tied to her chair. Her constant presence is both a nuisance to them and a continual warning and reminder of their terrible deed. The couple are increasingly plagued by nightmares and fearful imaginings. One day, the psychological burden becomes too much for them. Thérèse and Laurent confess to the old woman that they murdered her son. Madame Raquin then suffers a stroke and is now permanently in need of care. Thérèse and Laurent begin to distrust each other, believing that either of them might inform the police about the other. Each of them begins to entertain thoughts of murder. Eventually, they see no other way out and take their own lives together.