Catherine Breillat is the bad girl of filmmaking and one I’ve often compared to film’s counterpart of musicians L7. Her films are brash, unapologetic and sometimes difficult to watch and though I may not always agree with her feminist politics, it’s impossible to turn away from a woman who is unafraid to put women front and centre.
When it was announced that her new film was based on the story of Bluebeard, I was expecting a film packed with debauchery and 80 minutes crammed full of sexual charge but Breillat’s Bluebeard is surprisingly tame though not at the loss of making a point. The film tackles the story of Bluebeard from two sides: two young sisters reading the story aloud and the sisters featured in the story of Bluebeard, a rich aristocrat with a taste for women whom he weds and who then disappear never to be seen again. The story that he murders his wives after a year of wedded bliss scare away many but not Marie-Catherine who finds the bearded man kind and giving that is, until she fails to follow his instructions.
Perhaps more interesting than the story Marie-Catherine’s love for Bluebeard (despite him being unattractive and much older than she is), a story which sees the young girl change from greedy to loving to greedy once more while never losing control over Bluebeard, is the story of the two sisters reading the fairytale out loud. Their commentary on both the events taking place in the story and their thoughts on marriage and relationships in general, are a slap in the face of tradition and the fact that the most scathing comments come from the younger of the two girls is bound to shock more than few.
What exactly is Breillat getting at here? I didn’t overlook the fact that the two characters which display the most strength, knowledge and control are the two youngest characters, but what does that mean? That women lose their edge and conviction as they get older? I’m not sure but the film opens the door for some excellent discussion.
Some may be disappointed by the costuming and set design that though adequate, is more comparable to a poor man’s BBC rip-off than a production by a world renowned artists but it does not take away from the outstanding performances from Lola Créton as Marie-Catherine and Lola Giovannetti as the young reader and Breaillat’s ability to create an entertaining film which also manages to question and encourage discussion on feminist politics.
Easily the tamest of Breillat’s works, Bluebeard is no lightweight but it displays a lighter side of Breillat, a side I’d like to see more of.
See VIFF screening schedule for show times.
