Belle Toujours (15)
Thursday 7th January 2010
Manoel de Oliveira 2006 - 68mins
Portugal/France
Language: French
Now
in his 100th year, the master of Portuguese cinema has turned to French
cinema to give us a sequel to a much loved classic. Paris, the
present, at a music concert elderly Henri Husson spots Séverine, a
society wife that he became acquainted with 40 years before.
Belle Toujours is a perfectly constructed jewel.
Score: 44%
Some members' comments:
Having seen Belle
de Jour several times, it was really interesting to see this. At
first I was worried that it wasn't Catherine Deneuve as Séverine
but, as the film progressed, I think it worked well having Bulle Ogier
instead, as Séverine's character had changed. I like the
Parisian red-goldness, the surreal rooster at the end and the
uncertainty of what is time/memory and recollection.
Perfect cinema.
Slow and quite boring - a shame, following Belle de Jour.
What was that all about?? distortion of the film was a problem throughout (too wide).
Dubing was also poor most of the time.
Good music - pointless exercise.
Not nearly as good as Belle de Jour, but good acting by Michel Piccoli.
Quelle éspèce de bêtise! (what rubbish!)
Quite confusing.
Most of it was blurred, especially the opening shot of the orchestra. No Cahterine Deneuve either!
Is it the season of slow films?
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