IN “A Girl Cut in Two,” vet eran French director Claude Chabrol updates one of New York’s most infamous mur ders to modern-day Lyon.
In that 1906 case, Stanford White, a big-shot architect and well-known womanizer, was murdered by the husband of his much-younger mistress, chorus girl turned model Evelyn Nesbit, who became known as the Girl in the Velvet Swing.
Chabrol’s stylish and intelligent melodrama also concerns an older man and a younger woman.
The gentleman is Charles Saint-Denis (Francois Berleand), a novelist who lives in a comfy home with his sexy wife of 25 years.
His prey is Gabrielle, a scooter-riding TV weathergirl he meets at a book signing. She’s portrayed by French sex kitten Ludivine Sagnier – if you don’t remember her face from “Swimming Pool” (2003), you certainly remember the bikini she wore.
It doesn’t take long for Charles and Gabrielle to get locked into a sordid affair. But Charles is the wandering type, and he leaves Gabrielle, who sinks into depression.
The turn of events is the perfect opportunity for icky rich boy Paul (Benoit Magimel), who is age-appropriate, to put the moves on the devastated young woman.
They wed even though Gabrielle still loves the old guy, and trouble follows.
Chabrol, who is often called the French Hitchcock because of his intricate thrillers, is approaching the big 8-0, yet he continues to do quality work, as shown by “A Girl Cut in Two.”
May he never cease.
In French, with English subtitles. Running time: 110 minutes. Not rated (sex, violence). At the IFC Center and the Lincoln Plaza.