By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.75 cats
Director: Julia Ducournau
Starring: Agathe Rousselle | Diong-Kéba Tacu | Garance Marillier | Laïs Salameh | Mara Cisse | Marin Judas | Vincent Lindon
Country: belgium, france
Year: 2021
Running time: 108
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10944760/reference
Brett says: “Julia Ducournau is doing what no one else in cinema is doing. This does not always translate to automatically being good, but this director is inventive and finding ways to give legs to outlandish and logic-defying cinema, so in this case, the result should be considered meritorious.
“The element of surprise is the core of a film like TITANE. In offering a window to look inside such a film, it’s best to talk about the craftsmanship of who is at the helm of it all without openly ruining the experience. Ducournau’s resume of films can be counted on one hand, yet she seems to be carving out a genre of film that does not yet exist or have a name. My mind seems to latch on to the phrase ‘dramatic pulp cringe,’ but what is problematic about a label—and a label like that one in particular—can be that it connotes a derogatory brand for the movement that one is attempting to describe.
“While a film like this is in category all is own, one of the closest ways I can come to describing the effect or tearing down forbidden curtains of film division is to liken it to what it felt like in witnessing Quentin Tarantino’s breakthroughs in the early 90s and how he seemed to redefine plenty of things about cinema back then.
“Like its predecessor RAW, both the premise and visual execution here in this film can be excruciating at times. In fact, I have to admit that even I felt physically nauseous during a moment or two of my screening experience with this one. While this may be an automatic red flag and dealbreaker to some, this effect is actually a ‘form meeting function’ part of the film. Without ruining too much, there seems to be a commentary, or even a tirade, taking place throughout the film about the frustration of human physicality and physiology. As such, this film gets a standing ovation for nodding to the foundational ideas of transcendentalism and finding a completely different axis of symmetry from which to explore the longings of humanity, a humanity that has always been confined in its own skin and all that that entails.
“It is the type of film that doesn’t feel right to discuss beforehand in trying to convince people to see it. By contrast, it is exactly the type of film you want to hover around the exit for, as others walk out of it in the end so that you can then discuss it at length. While it is difficult to find an appropriate label to fit this in and tag within a streaming service list of categories, it may be best just to label TITANE and Julia Ducournau as limitless. 5 cats
“Recommended for cinephiles who love to see boundaries tested and pushed
“Not recommended for viewers with a weak stomach
“Not recommended for viewers who have any sort of limited tolerance toward the physical pain of others
“Not recommended for viewers often critical of conventional narrative shakeups”
Chris says: “Felt a rush from this similar to the first time viewing DRIVE or BEAU TRAVAIL. Shocking, seductive, transgressive, bonkers and somehow I was with director Julia Ducournau every step of the way, even though body horror is not really my jam (and if it’s not yours, see this at your own risk.) I don’t know how John Waters missed placing this on his top ten list of 2021 films. 4.5 cats“