Belphégor: Claude Barma's TV Masterpiece on Artpress

In a 2001 article for Artpress, critic Philippe Sollers praises Claude Barma's 1965 television adaptation of "Belphégor," arguing it transcends the thriller genre through its focus on human relationships and conversational depth. The series, recently rebroadcast on Festival channel, follows the investigation of a phantom haunting the Louvre. Sollers highlights the chemistry between characters, particularly the tender bond between Lady Oldwin and Commissioner Ménardier, which slows the plot and deepens the mystery. He contrasts Barma's approach with typical serials: instead of a vertical plunge into darkness, Barma offers a horizontal promenade across surfaces, spaces, and eras—from the Louvre to Montmartre, from the Belle Époque to the 1960s. The article contends that the series' true genius lies in its digressions, where characters engage in theoretical debates over coffee or cards, transforming seemingly wasted time into essential human connection. Sollers concludes that television, unlike cinema, fosters a continuous, concrete friendship with ghosts, urging viewers to love their neighbor as a phantom.