Noroît (film)

Noroît is a 1976 French film directed by Jacques Rivette, starring Geraldine Chaplin, Bernadette Lafont, and Kika Markham. It is the third film in Rivette's Scenes from a Parallel Life cycle, preceded by Duelle (1976) and followed by Merry-Go-Round (1981).

Inspired by Elizabethan tragedy, particularly Shakespeare's Hamlet, Noroît (French for "northwest wind") depicts a brutal, mythical battle between two warring pirate gangs. The film is set in Brittany and uses the natural landscape, particularly the rugged coastline, to create an atmosphere of danger and isolation.

Chaplin plays Morag, a vengeful woman seeking retribution for the death of her brother. She is pitted against Giulia (Lafont), the leader of the rival pirate gang. The film is characterized by its deliberate pacing, ritualistic performances, and exploration of themes of revenge, power, and female agency. Like Rivette's other films, Noroît explores the boundaries between performance and reality, blurring the lines between the characters' lives and their theatrical roles.