La Belle Captive (1983)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: B-
Alain
Robbe-Grillet is one of the most significant writers of the French New Wave,
best known for scripting Alain Resnais’ 1961 masterwork Last Year At Marienbad, one of the most significant works of the
movement. Its brilliant attempt to
challenge time, space and memory is still ahead of most of its imitators and
became preoccupations for the rest of the careers of both artists. In 1983, Robbe-Grillet continued to direct his
own such self-scripted films with La
Belle Captive and though a classic did not result, it is still an
interesting film.
Daniel
Mesguich plays Walter, a man who becomes obsessed with and attracted to a
mysterious woman (Gabrielle Lazure) named Marie-Ange, who he meets at a
nightclub party. Then, driving back, he
finds her in the middle of the road bound and nearly hits her. He picks her up, but things become more
complicated when she turns up dead, then alive, then dead. And who is the beautiful brunette on the
motorcycle?
Derived
from the art and writing of René Magritte, the film holds together much better
than so many films (especially of late) trying to pull off the same thing, but
the ending may just be too pat for what transpires throughout. The actors are good, locations and set-ups
appropriately dreamlike (to the extent of shooting some scenes soft) and is
thoroughly throughout. There are more
than enough good moments to recommend you see it at least once.
The
letterboxed 1.66 X 1 color image is not bad, lensed by cinematographer Henri
Alekan. I like the look of the film and
it is rich, even when it is soft. After
this an HD and 35mm print would be nice to see.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono shows its age, but is also not bad and
features some choice music that makes this more effective. The only extra is the trailer, but this film
deserves more and the success of this DVD will hopefully spawn more than this
basic edition.
- Nicholas Sheffo
