I just saw this film, and chanced upon this director, Catherine Breillat - somewhat new to me, though she may be well-known to some of you. Apparently she's been controversial right from the start of her career - and the first film she made, in 1976 (A Real Young Girl) was released for distribution only about four years ago. It was banned for having pornographic content. This didn't stop Catherine though, and she continued through the years, becoming well-known for A ma soeur (Fat Girl).Breve Traverse (Brief Crossing) is interesting in that it is about an older woman-young boy situation unfolding on a ferry between Le Havre and Portsmouth; but also it is about the Anglo-Saxon mindset juxtaposed with what Catherine calls in her interview, a "baby Latin lover".
The interview is almost as captivating as the film - Catherine doesn't hold back on her views about religion, gender identity, coming-of-age experiences for men and women and so forth. But what struck me most was not the more strident parts of her comments. Rather, it was when she was talking about why she makes films that are essentially always variations on the same theme - two people in an intimate relationship, she says en passant, "Life is a story, that you have with another person".
And it doesn't matter who the people are, what the situation is, or what the underlying motivations may be...it is true, isn't it?
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2 comments:
I have not seen A Ma Soeur so I find it funny that it has been translated as Fat Girl. What it literally means is To My Sister.. Hmm.
Yes, isn't that a bit funny? I am waiting to see it, and the plot is consistent with the original French title. However, the younger sister is apparently a bit on the heavy side... as reflected in the English title. Perhaps it's a reflection on what aspect of the film was found to be more attractive to which audience?!
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