"Elles" is beautifully filmed. Szumowska is a
master of cinematography and mise-en-scene. In many instances, just the way a
shot was composed took my breath away. Equally gorgeous was the editing, with
cross-cutting that was consistently innovative and almost always perfect.
The film is masterfully acted, with the incomparable
Juliette Binoche leading a superb supporting cast. Szumowska clearly knows how
to direct actors and is able to handle middle-aged and young actors equally
well, a rare skill. Every character felt authentic to me, from the teenagers to
the fortysomethings. One of the hallmarks of a true artist, I believe, is the
ability to empathize with characters of all ages -- seeing the world from their
different perspectives.
The story line is as follows: A well-educated, middle-aged
wife and mother (Binoche) is a Parisian journalist researching an article on
young female prostitutes. We go along with her as she conducts several
interviews with the young women. We also go along with the prostitutes on some
appointments, so we get to know them first-hand as well. The film is almost as
much about the young prostitutes as it is about the journalist, but it digs
more deeply into the character of the journalist.
Szumowska's major interest is how the experience impacts
Binoche's character. This journalist who has up until now led something like
the perfect bourgeois life, finds herself distracted and irascible at home. I
loved watching Binoche bring this vague ennui to life. She's not specifically
unhappy about anything, but getting to know the prostitutes has vaguely
unsettled her.
I love that the film doesn't get too specific about this.
But this strength is paradoxically also a weakness. It gives the film a sketchy
quality that can at times feel irritating, as if the film lacks a story arc.
The film is also at times repetitious.
But overall, "Elles" is one of the most
interesting pieces of work of the cinema season. In a year that has so far been
incredibly disappointing with regard to cinema, "Elles" stands out as
a brave and authentic work of art. A work of true cinema.
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