Jevon Taylor, 01/03/2007
Anatomy of Hell represents controversial feminist director Catherine Breillat's most resent, and supposedly last, film about human sexuality. And as such can be understood as the most intensly reduced (of ten associated films). Going further, this film could be understood as the summation of this novelist, poet, essayist and filmmakers career of ideas up until 2004 - when whe was 17 she had her first, bestselling, novel published only to see it classified as 18+. She clearly has something interesting, and unsavoury to some, to say.
It is a confrontaional film capable of shocking most people (my self definately included) and provoke thought: Question why we display certain behaviours in certain romantic/sexual, and by extension social, situations.
The film as a story revolves around a young woman (Amira Cesar) who picks up a gay man (Rocco Siffredi) to watch her when she is "unwatchable". Over a series of nights the pair then engage in a series of sometimes symbolic and often disturbing sexual acts, whilst a narrator expresses certain ideas, about what is happening and why. This slightly disjointed narration combines effectively with the largley narrative visuals, each playing off an atmosphere created by the pther.
Although perhaps expected from Breillat, this film is refreshingly female in its gaze and direction. Something which is as rare in "art-house" cinema as it is in Hollywood blockbusters.
The DVD in question here also comes with an interview with Breillat herself, in my opinion one of the most exciting directors preswently working anywhere in the world.
Although the film is clearly not for everyone, the low prices available on the internet for this DVD make it difficult for me not to recommend.
If you are moderately interested in cinema, femnism, Breillat, gender relations and/or swexual behaviour then you should buy this film.
|
DVD Boxsets