La Ceremonie, also known as "A Judgement in Stone," is a French psychological thriller directed by Claude Chabrol in 1995. The film stars Sandrine Bonnaire as the illiterate maid Sophie, Isabelle Huppert as the postmaster Jeanne, and Jacqueline Bisset and Jean-Pierre Cassel as the upper-class family Lelievre.
The story is adapted from Ruth Rendell's novel A Judgement in Stone, and it explores the themes of social class, illiteracy, and violence. Sophie is hired as a live-in maid by the Lelievres and is asked to perform various domestic chores, but she struggles to read and write and is afraid of being exposed.
As she befriends Jeanne, who also struggles with poverty and social injustice, Sophie begins to question the oppressive and hypocritical attitudes of her employers. However, her growing assertiveness and defiance lead to a gruesome and fatal confrontation with the Lelievres, who become increasingly intolerant and hostile towards her and Jeanne.
The film contrasts the rigid and sterile world of the Lelievres, who represent the upper-class elite, with the vibrant and colorful world of Jeanne, who represents the dispossessed and marginalized underclass. The tension between these two worlds ultimately culminates in a shocking and tragic ending that leaves the viewer questioning the nature of justice and morality.