𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆 (2021)

Tromperie (2021) — A Labyrinth of Lies, Longing, and Literary Seduction

Tromperie (2021) is a slow-burning, cerebral meditation on desire, fidelity, and the blurred boundaries between life and fiction. Directed by Arnaud Desplechin and adapted from Philip Roth’s 1990 novel Deception, the film unfolds more like a theatrical chamber piece than a traditional drama. It’s dialogue-heavy, sensual, and unapologetically intellectual — a film where every conversation feels like a confession.

Denis Podalydès plays Philip, a fictionalized version of the author himself — a married American writer living in self-imposed exile in London. His life revolves around long, intimate encounters in his study with various women, most notably “the English Lover” (Léa Seydoux), a married actress who becomes his emotional and sexual muse. Their conversations — sometimes tender, often bruising — explore everything from betrayal and memory to the very nature of storytelling itself.

Desplechin, known for his complex, character-driven narratives (Kings and Queen, A Christmas Tale), directs with an elegant minimalism. Much of the film is set within Philip’s study, where shifting lighting, subtle glances, and the occasional burst of music create a world where time feels suspended — a space ruled not by action, but by thought and desire.

Léa Seydoux gives a layered performance that balances confidence with vulnerability. Her character is both real and possibly imagined — a perfect reflection of the film’s central question: where does life end and fiction begin? Is Philip telling us the truth about these women, or only the truth he wants us to see?

While Tromperie may feel stagey or opaque to viewers expecting traditional storytelling, it offers a rich experience to those willing to engage with its literary structure. The screenplay, adapted faithfully from Roth’s text, is philosophical and provocative. It challenges viewers to question not only the characters’ motives, but also their own assumptions about fidelity, creativity, and gender dynamics.

Tromperie (2021) isn’t for everyone. It’s a film that unfolds in conversations, not plot twists. But for fans of Roth, Desplechin, or slow-burning European character studies, it’s a rewarding and hypnotic exploration of love and self-deception.

Ultimately, Tromperie reminds us that some of the most dangerous lies are the ones we tell ourselves — in bed, in books, and in silence.