Une vie sans joie

Catherineisaservantgirlworkingforthelocalmayorandvictimofthesharptonguesofthemayor'swifeandherfriends.Thisismadeclearinafirstscenewheresheisaskedtogetthekeyofthemayor'sdeskataculturalpartythewifeisattending.Sheisharassedbythewholeelitewhodisliketheintrusionofthemaid.Inthissceneit'smadeclearalsothatthewifehasasecretloverwhowilllaterchallengethemayor'spoliticalcareerandwilluseCatherineasascapegoatforhisownambitions.Thisroleof"badguy"isplayedbyRenoirhimself.ThemayorwhoisfondofCatherineandisafraidthatshe'llbemorevictimizedbyhiswifeaskshissistertogiveCatherineapositioninherownhousehold.Thesisterhasasonwithtuberculosis(roleplayedbyDieudonné).He'ssoweakhehasnosuccesswithwomenofhisclassbutofcourseCatherinewilllikeinstantlythisfragileman.HediesafterkissingCatherinewhiletherestofthetowniscelebratingcarnival.Thekissingsceneatthewindowmixedwiththefireworksisabrilliantmomentofsilentmelodrama.Catherineisinmourningandbecauseofthatdrivenawaybythemayor'swifeandherfriends.Itisindecentthataservantgirlisinmourningandshowspublicaffectionforsomeonewhoisnotfromherownsocialstatus.TheemotionsofCatherinearetheelementofdisorderinthesocialorderedworldoftherich.Catherinegoesawayandhidesinacheaphotelinthecitywheresheisalsobulliedbyalocalpimpwhoseesinheraneasytargettoexploit.ByaccidentCatherineisseeninthehotelwindowwiththepimp,somorereasonforgossipbytheelite.Whenshereturnstothevillagelookingforajobsheisrejectedeverywhere,evenbythelocalChristianrelieforganizationofwhichthemayor'swifebecamepresident.Shemeetsthemayoragainwhoisshockedbytheattitudeofthetown,takesherinhishomeagainandpromoteshertohissecretary.Thewifeisfuriousofcourseandleavesherhusbandtolivewithhermother.Itisstartofaslandercampaignagainstthepoliticalcredibilityofthemayor.Theloverofthemayor'swifeseeswhatishappeningasagoldenopportunityandmakesapublicattackonthemoralcharacterofthemayor(what'snewunderthesun?)Catherinewantstoavoidthedownfallofherprotectorandleavesthemayor,explainingherselfinanote.Shehidesinanoldtramfortherainwhilethemayorisdrivingaroundinhiscarfranticallylookingforthegirl.Twovagabondsarethrownoutofapubandoutoffrustrationpushthetramcar,soitstartsacrazyraceupanddownthehillstowardsthebridgeandthevalleyabyss.Catherineisalreadyacceptingherdeathbutissavedintimebythemayorwhohasmadehischoiceforthegirl.Thesocialimplicationsofhischoicearenotshownbutareclearforall.