By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Manoel de Oliveira
Starring: Bulle Ogier | Júlia Buisel | Leonor Baldaque | Michel Piccoli | Ricardo Trêpa
Country: france, portugal
Year: 2007
Running time: 68
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475224/
Bruce says: “In a film career that has spanned eight decades de Oliviera has made forty two films. He has completed at least one film every year since 1990 when he was only 82. The 98 year old director of BELLE TOUJOURS was not available for a Q & A after the film screening at the New York Film Festival. He was busy filming his next film. I’M GOING HOME is the only other film of de Oliviera’s I have seen. I think that he is technically a good filmmaker but there is something strangely incomplete about each of his films.
“BELLE TOUJOURS, a sequel to Buñuel’s BELLE DE JOUR, is one of those ‘who ever thought this was a good idea’ projects.
Although Catherine Deneuve has worked with de Oliveira on three films, she does not revisit her role of Séverine Serizy. Instead, Bulle Ogier takes over. Michel Piccoli, who coincidentally has also worked with de Oliveira on three prior films, does show up to update his Henri Husson.
“Husson was a friend of Séverine’s husband in BELLE DE JOUR and he always lusted after Séverine. Séverine’s husband died at the end of the BELLE DE JOUR and she has remained a widow. One night, thirty eight years later, Husson sees Séverine at concert. He tries to follow her out of the theatre but looses her in the crowd. Shortly thereafter he sees her leaving a bistro and climbing into a car. Husson begins to drop by the bistro frequently and makes friends with the bistro bartender (Ricardo Trepa) who gives him important information about Séverine. In the bar are two upscale prostitutes (Júlia Buisel and Leonor Baldaque) who, throughout the film, have a running dialogue that is quite amusing.
“BELLE TOUJOURS is a tale of subtle revenge, subtle because the viewer is not clued into what Husson’s motives are. In fact, the viewer is led to believe after all the passing years his interest is still amorous. Finally Séverine and Husson meet, and the film tails off with a whimper not with the dramatic clash that is promised. Visually BELLE TOUJOURS is sumptuous. The acting is admirable. In the end, the problem may me mine – I wanted this film to be something it’s not. I’m looking forward to seeing a de Oliveira film that doesn’t give me that feeling. 3 cats
“(BELLE TOUJOURS was shown as part of the 2006 New York Film Festival)”