FILM OF THE WEEK
Elle Cert: 18; Now showing
Dutch director Paul Verhoeven brought us Basic Instinct and Starship Troopers. His work has been both praised and ridiculed. At 78, in his first French language film, he delivers one of his best films, much of whose quality is down to its star, iconic French actress Isabelle Huppert. It’s a difficult, morally complicated but entirely engaging film that works on both plot and character levels.
Michele (Huppert) is 49, very successful as the head of a video game company, divorced and mother of a grown son. The film opens with her being raped in her own home. Determined not to let this get in her way she carries on as normal. At a production meeting for the company’s latest game she insists the developers make the game rape scene “more orgasmic” then pops out for an STI test. She does not inform the police of her assault, the reason for her reticence becoming apparent over the two hours of the film. As does Michele’s character which like so many of the females Verhoeven has given us is one that seems to cross a line between feminism and misogyny.
Adapted by David Birke from Philip Djian’s novel and directed by Verhoeven, there are lots of men telling this woman’s story. She is surrounded by male stereotypes: aggressor, protector, womaniser, cuckold, and she eschews the emotionality that is traditionally considered a female response. Her anger flashes occasionally but mostly at other women and her life really is lived not proactively, but reacting to men. The tone of the film is interesting but potentially cold. That we care about Michele is why it works and entirely down to Huppert. It is complicated but it’s also strangely enjoyable.