GFF 2010: Bluebeard

 

Catherine Breillat’s filmmaking career has been defined predominantly by her explicit exploration of sex, as seen in films like Romance, Anatomie de l’enfer and A Ma Soeur! (Which has led, unsurprisingly, to a volatile relationship with cinema censors.) However in Bluebeard, the French director defies expectation my making a film with not one sex scene. Her adaptation of the dark fairytale tells the story of two young sisters, one of whom is married off to the mysterious and wealthy aristocrat Bluebeard. Within this narrative, Breillat explores familiar themes, namely the relationship between sisters and the ambivalent feelings between the sexes. What stands out is how elegant and intelligent a filmmaker Breillat is (something which is often forgotten in the furore that builds up around the graphic content), here you’ll find sumptuous cinematography, vibrant use of colour and intriguing and complexly drawn characters.