Venus in Furs

We learn quite early on in Roman Polanski’s latest movie that its not based on the Lou Reed song that was released on The Velvet Undergrounds debut album in 1967 but on the story written by Leopald von Sacher-Masoch, the great-great uncle of Marianne Faithful and the man who gave his name to the enjoyment of receiving pain. Polanski’s film Venus in Furs (2013) is based on a two-person play by David Ives, who helped Polanski adapt it for the screen, and which was originally set in modern New York City and premiered on Broadway in 2011.

 

The beautiful Wanda von Dunayev.

Set in a run down Parisian theatre, Thomas Novacheck (Mathieu Amalric who has an uncanny resemblance to the Polish auteur) has written an adaptation of Sacher-Masoch’s 1870 novelette and is alone in the theatre after a long day unsuccessfully auditioning actresses for the leading role of Wanda von Dunayev. Just as the debut director is about to leave the building for home in waltzes a dishevelled actress, Vanda Jourdain (Emmanuelle Seigner, the present wife of Roman Polanski) who begs the rather despondent director to let her read for the part. At first he refuses, suspecting that the woman is no better than the flock of hopefuls he has already seen, but she eventually persuades him.  Much to his surprise she has a complete understanding of the part she is about to play and when Thomas reads the part of Severin von Kusiemski he becomes completely obsessed, drawn into the world of masochism, furs, bondage and submission.

 

Wanda or is it Vanda asserts her every whim on Severin or is it Thomas? 

This movie is a play within a play, where we witness both life as a play, and a play-acting out life. The two actors are totally convincing in the ‘dual’ roles they perform. Except at the opening credits and at the end credits, the film is completely based within the confines of the theatre. The skill of the writing was very much appreciated by this blogger; its humour and the clever manipulating of the characters were superb. Polanski in top form, in what’s unusual for him – a grand comedy. Not to be missed.

Venus in Furs.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec

The beautiful adventuress Adele Blanc-Sec

When Frenchman Luc Besson was discussed at the recent RBC Film Club showing of The Lady (2011) is was implied that this versatile director would normally work in the world of fiction and his biggest influence were the comic books he read as a young boy, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec (2010) certainly matches this description. Besson’s last but one film transports us back to 1911 Paris where a prehistoric pterodactyl egg hatches at the Natural History Museum, it escapes and terrorises Paris. Meanwhile writer and adventuress Adele Blanc-Sec is in a Egyptian tomb to steal the mummy of Rameses doctor whom she suspects if brought back to life will cure her sister’s paralysis coursed by a terrible accident involving a game of tennis and a large hat pin.

The totally unrecognisable Mathieu Amalric

What a pleasurable, fantastically crazy piece of nonsense our clever French director has served up. This quest of life over death is brilliantly told, shot and acted. Superbly adapted from the comic books that portray the far-fetched adventures of this brave and beautiful heroine written and illustrated by the French comic artist Jacques Tardi. Besson fell in love with the character over ten years ago and he contacted Tardi who told him he had already agreed that another director was to adapt his stories into a motion picture. After a period of three to four years there was still no sign of the film being made, our insistent director contacted the author for a second time and promised that he would keep faith with the original characters, the story’s era and location and the designs found in the comic books, Tardi agreed and Besson set about writing the screenplay. When Tardi finally saw the finished work it was reported that he was delighted with the adaptation, especially with the way the action centred on the heroine, one of Besson’s strong points is the way he portrays women in his films.

A prehistoric pterodactyl egg hatches!!

Adele Blanc-Sec is a cross between Sherlock Holmes, Arsene Lupin and Indiana Jones and is compelling portrayed by the lovely Louise Bourgoin in her debut feature film. She had to play 15 variations of the character in the film for which she was deservedly nominated for a Cesar award for The Most Promising Actress. Others involved in this light hearted and fun filled adventure is the completely unrecognisable Mathieu Amalric as the villain Dieuleveut, Gilles Lellouche as the intrepid Inspector Leonce Caponi and Philippe Nahon as Professor Menard. The film includes some great special effects, brilliantly authentic sets, is full of energy and humour and is well worth a look. This is one franchise I would love to see more of.

The French Poster.

On Tour

Sometimes it’s quite surprising how many films you have watched involving the same actor. French actor and director Mathieu Amalric has appeared in a great many movies, including English language as well as his native tongue. Probably the best known is The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) when Amalric gave the performance of his life portraying Jean-Dominique Bauby who following a massive stroke left him in a condition known as Locked-in Syndrome. He secured two Best Actor awards for this role. Steven Spielberg’s Munich (2005) gave him an interesting role as Louis, an informant who is in cahoots with the Israeli government’s secret plot to assassinate those whom they suspect of carrying out the massacre of their athletes during the 1972 Munich Olympics. Nowhere as exciting was the ‘man at the masked ball’ part in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette (2006) mind you it did have a fantastic soundtrack! Next on my DVD shelf is The Singer (2006) a romantic musical drama he shared with the back to form Gerard Depardieu and the lovely Cecile De France. He won two more Best Actor awards for 2007’s Heartbeat Detector, a film I’ve never been sure about. The same year as The Diving Bell and the Butterfly he had a supporting role in Claude Millers adaptation of Philippe Grimberts best selling novel A Secret again sharing screen credits with Cecile De France. 2007 was a great year for Amalric not only did he appear as the villain in Quantum of Solace and opposite Vincent Cassel in Mesrine Part 2 but appeared as Henri in one of the best films to come out of France in the last few years A Christmas Tale in which all the family are summoned to their parent’s residence for the Christmas holidays to learn that their mother (Catherine Deneuve) has leukaemia, all the hidden complexities of family life rise to the surface with its tensions and conflicts. Alan Resnais latest film Wild Grass (2009) featured Amalric as a local police officer. Which brings us to his first film where his acting duties and directorial responsibilities have collided.

Amalric with his troupe.

On Tour (2009) was inspired by a book by French novelist Colette, who is best known for her novel Gigi, the director wanted to translate the sentiment of book to a modern setting and it is best described as a type of road movie. The story involves former TV producer Joachim Zand (Amalric) who has just returned to France, after a long spell in the USA, with a Neo-Burlesque troupe. We follow the group as they tour various French port cities with their show, Zand promises the girls that the final performance will be in the French capital city itself. Amalric’s role is of a very troubled individual, who seems almost protected by the girls and someone that has no idea how to look after his two sons when his estranged wife leaves them with him.

The "Cast"

Genuine Neo-Burlesque performers Mimi Le Meaux, Kitten on the Keys, Dirty Martini, Julie Atlas Muz, Evie Lovelle and Roky Roulette and not professional actors, play the company’s artistes with the shows staged in front of a live audience in real clubs. It was not intended for the director to act in the film and this decision was only made three weeks before shooting was due to start. My main criticism is that the film is disjointed and that the award winning French actor is to young to play the role, therefore not entirely credible.  Admittedly not your traditional musical but the best parts are with out doubt when the “girls” are on the screen, with their spontaneous dialogue and banter the films worth seeing for them alone. The film premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival where it won FIPRESCI Award, the festivals main prize from film critics. Amalric also received the Best Director Award.