Catherine Breillat's Abuse of Weakness opens with Maud Shainberg, a film director, waking up in bed to a violent stroke. A massive stroke has left half of Maud's body paralyzed, with a long road to recovery ahead. Strong-willed, Maude's attention stays on her next film, having already secured part of the financing. One night while watching television she comes across Vilko, a ex-con man, who Maud quickly becomes infatuated with, belieing he would be the perfect lead in her film. The two meet, with Maud and Vilko quicking forming a relationship built on control and power. Inspired by Catherine Breillat's own personal experiences, Abuse of Weakness is a harrowing examination of control, power, and fragility. Isabelle Huppert is spellbinding as Maud, a tough woman whose always been in control. This stroke begins to pick apart this toughness, exposing a fragility that Vilko is able to exploit. Neither Vilko nor Maude are the victim or oppressor, both being control freak type characters who are attempting to use one and other for their own personal gains. While Vilko's intentions of conning Maude are much more obvious, Maude isn't purely innocent either, wanting to use this man she views somewhat as a animal to revitalize her career. Without question Maud is the far more sympathetic character, a woman who slowly starts to be confronted by her own fragility, feeling her body is failing her. Her insecurity and frailty are what allows her to be conned by Vilko, feeling unwanted and helpless after her stroke. Abuse of Weakness doesn't pretend to have all the answers but it does ask interesting questions, exploring the power struggle of any relationship, capturing how one's inner-weakness can leave them helpless.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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