This film is based on a book by Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly, and not done very well in my opinion. Basically, the story takes place in 1835 France and revolves around Ryno de Marigny (Fu’ad Ait Aattou) a man about to give up a life of gambling and womanizing to marry the beautiful Hermangarde (Roxane Mesquida), but must first give up his decade-long relationship with Vellini (Asia Argento) and narrate his illicit love affair with her to Hermangarde’s grandmother, Marquise de Flers (Claude Sarraute) before she agrees to the marriage. Claude is wonderful as the grandmother; hanging on Ryno’s every word during his narration and questions his renewed fidelity. Ryno offers to move form Paris to remove the temptation, but Vellini has other plans.
This is a French erotic film, filled with sexual themes throughout. Some people just get under ones skin and won’t let go, even when little things like marriage and security make those relationships unhealthy.
The period costumes look great, Ms. Argento delivers a great performance, but the film is longer than it needs to be. I can’t be sure whether it’s supposed to be faithful to the book it’s based on or if the director is indulging in analyzing personal demons. I suspect the latter, but willing to give the benefit of the doubt that some plot points are necessary to the overall film. It could have been much shorter and still be faithful and give a good movie experience.
I subscribe to the idea that if a movie is weak in any area, one must have substitute as must flesh as possible to offset it. Unfortunately, this film doesn’t compensate enough with Ms. Argento’s lovely form to view as anything other than a erotic period piece.
Ambivalent.
