Set in a 19th century swamp-side village, Le Marais is a disturbing modern fable. A woman is accidentally killed by a farming couple defending their crops from trespassers. In a panic they dump the body near the home of two puppeteer outcasts, Alexandre and Ulysse. Alexandre, the elder of the duo, discovers the corpse and disposes of it in the nearby marsh, thinking the authorities would never believe that he simply stumbled upon the scene. While he keeps his cool over the second-hand crime, the murderous couple struggles with their mounting guilt. Somewhere between the two is curious Ulysse, a young man born with unfortunate deformities that rouse the superstitious peasants’ fears. He also finds the dead woman and repeatedly visits her, creating an imaginary world where she has become a mermaid siren. The chain reaction of suspicion and death wreaks havoc in the village, and some strange connections between the key players are learned. The film is bathed in bright, gauzy colors, and Ulysse’s naive perception of the world adds to the dream-like atmosphere. At times it threatens to take a fantastical turn like The Brothers Grimm, helping to throw the audience off balance with unclear expectations.

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