Film Review: Romance (1999)

Pornographic and mainstream films are worlds apart, even in our seemingly more enlightened and permissive times. Having a major porn star as prominent cast member in a mainstream film is rare. Having a major porn star that uses talents specific of the genre in a mainstream film is even rarer. Such occurrences are more likely in more relaxed and libertine European cinema than in United with its prudish MPAA censorship. One of best known can be seen in Romance, French 1999 drama directed by Catherine Breillat.

The protagonist is Marie (played by Caroline Ducey), young primary school teacher who lives with her boyfriend Paul (played by Sagamore Sévenin). She loves him very much, but lately she became frustrated with his decision not to have sex with her. So, she tries to satisfy her sexual needs elsewhere which includes brief but passionate encounter with widower Paolo (played by Rocco Siffredi). True sexual awakening only when she discovers secret life of her school’s headmaster Robert (played by François Berléand), man who claims that he had sex with 10000 women. He explains that the secret of his success is ability to listen to women as well as his skills at BDSM. However, even those short liaisons won’t make Marie happy until she finally gets pregnant with Paul.

Catherine Breillat became famous as a writer before becoming prominent, albeit controversial, film maker. Her works both on paper and on film were subjects of bans and heated debates over explicit content and frank depictions of sexuality, like in case of 36 Fillette, her previous film in which dealt with attempts of adolescent girl to lose virginity with a playboy. Breillat considers herself to be a feminist and her film attempts to explore sexuality from woman’s point of view. On the other hand, Romance is a film that could easily anger feminists, at least those of the more radical persuasion. The main issue for them would be Breillat’s decision to have scene of unsimulated sex in the film, which would enough for many radical feminists to brand her film “pornographic” and therefore exploitative of women. Breillat was attacked for asking actress Caroline Ducey to do in front of camera what most of her colleagues would refuse to do. Breillat also quite explicitly shows that women, at least those like the protagonist, need men for their sexual satisfaction, and usually men that are rough instead of gentle. Finally, the ending that suggests motherhood as the source of Marie’s happiness is not going to sit well among those who advocate women embracing career instead of traditional values.

Feminist approach is, however, quite visible in the way Breillat approaches sex as a strictly technical issue. Caroline Ducey appears nude for the most part of the film, but there is actually few sex scenes in the film. When they appear they are presented in non-erotic way. They are often accompanied by the protagonist’s narration which includes cold clinical observations that are likely to extinguish possible excitement among viewers. Instead, such “pornographic” scenes are likely to make audience think about various issues.

Breillat was fortunate to have a good cast. Caroline Ducey, young actress who was willing to take enormous risks during her peformance, is impressive in her role. Even Rocco Sifftredi, legendary Italian porn star known for his stone face, does more than decent job in the role that requires him to actually act. Famous French character actor François Berléand is also good in the role of middle-aged man with strange fetishes. Breillat as director handles plot well and maintains good tempo. One of the scenes, which shows Marie’s dream, is quite imaginative and is even more memorable than the actual sex that appears on screen. The ending, however, looks a little bit hastened and too melodramatic. Romance is nevertheless a very good film that could be recommended, at least to viewers accustomed to arthouse cinema or works that blur certain lines between various kinds of films.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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