From the very beginning of Catherine Breillat's controversial film "Anatomy of Hell' it's quite clear that this is going to be an explicit film examining the fear of female sexuality in society as well as feminism's unfair treatment in a male-centric world. We are introduced to our main protagonist, a woman, who stands alone in a gay club. The lightening and camera work really help capture this lonely female in a male dominated setting. She goes to the bathroom where she begins to slit her wrist, only to be saved by a gay man, who can't comprehend why she would do this to herself. Her reasoning essentially being: "because I am a Woman, setting up a quazi-bet between the two of them, where the man agrees to spend four consecutive nights at her secluded estate, exploring their sexuality. Breillat's film is VERY explicit and most people will definitely have trouble with this film because of it, but what ensues is a very interesting, thought-provoking study of male and female sexuality. This is not a film simply about the double standards that exist in our society, rather it's a much intellectual look at the nature of masculinity and femininity, and how they interact-clash with our society's predetermined "gender roles"-particularly the male's fear of female sexuality. This is a very cerebral, cold film-making where almost the entire film takes place in this one bedroom between the two people. As much as I liked a LOT about this piece I do think it becomes a little too pandering and didactic in it's approach. Would love to read some more in-depth critique of this film, as a lot of critics seemed to write this film off as "pornographic", it is, but I would argue that was kinda essential for this searing film. 8.25/10
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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