In Paris, Christine Rivière (Kristin Scott Thomas) is a tough executive of a French corporation. Her assistant Isabelle Guérin (Ludivine Sagnier) is an intelligent and cunning young woman needy of love and affection. When Isabelle is assigned to travel to Cairo with the lawyer Philippe Deschamps (Patrick Mille) to show her project, her idea is successful and Isabelle and Philippe have one night stand. Back in France, the senior management in the headquarter in Washington congratulates Christine for the project and she does not give the credit to Isabelle. Soon she notes that the manipulative Christine is using her to climb in the corporation. When her secretary Daniel (Guillaume Marquet) shows another project from Washington, Isabelle proposes improvements but does not show them to Christine. They have a meeting with the American executives and Isabelle is congratulated by them. Christine begins a war and humiliates Isabelle first using Philippe that has embezzled a large amount and is in her hands and then in a party. Isabelle plots a scheme and kills Christine at home. However the calculating Isabelle leaves many evidences in the crime scene incriminating herself and does not have an alibi.

"Crime d'amour" is another great French thriller with a good story of ambition, ingratitude and revenge. The two lead actresses, Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier, are wonderful and their duel is engaging. The theme, competition in a corporation, is a reality and the viewer will certainly identify characters with real real coworkers or ex-coworkers. The conclusion shows how dangerous is the secretary Daniel. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Crime de Amor" ("Love Crime")

Sadly, this was to be Alain Corneau's last film, as he died a week after this premiered.

Ludivine Sagnier and Kristin Scott-Thomas star as Isabelle and Christine, who both work for a conglomerate with offices all over the world. Christine (Scott-Thomas) is Isabelle's boss and seems very fond of her. Isabelle does amazing work, which Christine takes credit for. Isabelle seems okay with that, even when her coworker, Daniel (Guillaume Marquet) points it out.

Isabelle and Christine are both involved with the same co-worker, Philippe (Patrick Mille). Christine, being hard-boiled, has information on Philippe concerning a shortage in some of his accounts.

At Daniel's urging, Isabelle gives a report to the American firm interested in working with them, and they are very impressed, particularly when she says that it's hers and she takes full responsibility for it. The firm had initially offered Christine a lucrative job in New York and she had purchased an apartment; now they tell her that it was premature to offer it to her and they will discuss it later.

Christine confronts Isabelle and accuses her of trying to make her look bad, usurping her authority, etc., etc. Later she uses what she has on Philippe to have him make a date with Isabelle and then break it. When Isabelle calls Philippe, Christine answers and basically declares war on Isabelle. She then humiliates Isabelle at a party.

It goes from there.

The French for some reason do this kind of film very well, and Love Crime is no exception. The men are secondary to the two competitive women with their own agendas. The environment of the office is sterile and ultramodern

Kristin Scott-Thomas is excellent as the cold Christine, a smile barely covering a truly nasty personality. When she asks how Isabelle's hair would look down before a meeting, Isabelle shows her - and Christine says, keep it up. That's because with her hair down, you can see what a dazzling young beauty Isabelle is, and Christine has to keep her in her place.

Sagnier, with her wide-eyed, innocent face, is perfect as a sweet woman who realizes she's in a jungle and needs to fight to survive.

Very good if predictable film once you see where it's going.

'Crime d'amour' (= French for 'crime out of love') is a psychological thriller, a qualification lent from the world of books.

Just as with the books, the plot really makes the strength here -- fascinating you from beginning to end. This film's first half an hour is used to introduce you to its main personalities, thereafter its story really develops.

'Crime d'amour's theme is a very actual one: showing the mechanisms in the top of the French branch of an American food concern. Greed, bonus-hunting and dedication to prestige are all around, reducing the people involved to tools of their ambition. The main characters only act nice to others, only have dinner or sex with each other, when such behavior is instrumental to their goals. Of course they do not have any consideration with the weak or less privileged among us, and mercilessly drop colleagues they cannot use anymore. In sharp contrast this film also shows a scene of a happy family-life with young children.

The plot really makes the strength here, I said. For the rest, 'Crime d'amour's shooting and acting show competent without being outstanding.