Drawing on the real-life prosecution of a recent scandal, Chabrol, a former law student, seems to be having more fun with a film than he's had in years, and it's contagious.

A sleek, hand-tooled, extremely sophisticated package, A Comedy Of Power is a very grown-up entertainment that artfully walks a line between moral comedy and political thriller.

The film constantly plays out within the borders of a perfectly traceable reality, overwhelming it with an absolutely rigorous mise-en-scn

The film is at its best in its portraits of the politicians and company officials, exemplary representatives of the French bourgeoisie and nouveau riche.