Tromperie (also known as Deception), directed by Arnaud Desplechin and based on the novel by Philip Roth, is an introspective and dialogue-driven French film that blurs the line between fiction and reality. Starring Denis Podalydès as the unnamed writer and Léa Seydoux as his English mistress, the film dives deep into themes of memory, intimacy, betrayal, and the complexity of human relationships.
Set primarily in the writer’s Parisian apartment, Tromperie unfolds as a series of conversations between the writer and various women who pass through his life—his mistress, his wife, past lovers, and even imagined figures. These encounters are steeped in emotional tension, philosophical musing, and sexual politics, making the film feel more like a play than a traditional narrative. Each dialogue peels back a layer of the characters’ inner lives, particularly the writer’s, revealing his desires, regrets, and the blurred boundaries between his real experiences and fictional creations.
Léa Seydoux brings a haunting vulnerability and strength to her role, navigating her character’s affair with honesty and complexity. The film doesn’t follow a conventional plot but rather focuses on mood, tone, and introspection, creating a dreamlike atmosphere where time and truth are fluid.
Tromperie is a film for lovers of literary cinema, rich with layered performances and philosophical depth. It explores how stories—both told and untold—can define who we are, and how deception is often woven into the very fabric of intimacy. Quiet, cerebral, and deeply personal, Tromperie is a meditative look at love and the stories we tell to make sense of it.
