Director: Luis Bunuel
Year: 1967
Country: France
Language: French
Belle De Jour was on my mind for a long time. I had always wanted to see it but never had the motivation. It was very hyped but for all I knew it could have been a boring French film. So I held of watching it, until my first year of University. In my film class I was able to see this and I must say I was impressed. An erotic yet intelligent tale about a woman who wants more in life. Back in the 60's the film was controversial, and I believe it would still be considered controversial today due to the opening rape scene which might not be a rape scene to begin with.
Indeed, the "rape" scene at the beginning of the film brings some interesting questions. Is it a rape scene at all? Severine (Catherine Deneuve) seems to enjoy being handled roughly as she is tied helplessly by two carriage drivers. Severine is a woman who gains great thrill from having uninhibited sex. She is married to a handsome surgeon (Jean Sorel) who makes a decent wage and has a decent home. She has a life that most women would enjoy and be lucky to have, yet she isn't satisfied. Her life is perfectly normal, yet she's not happy. Why? Well, maybe the middle class life isn't what she longs for. She does not seem to care for material possessions nor security. North American women might suggest she is suffering from sex addiction, but perhaps those same women haven't had that great of a sex life to begin with.
It seems that Severine's husband Pierre represents North American sexuality. He is rather reserved and quiet. Un-interested in his sexual conquests and more in his status and material possessions. North American men have the habit of not pleasing their wives/girlfriends sexually or being selfish in the bedroom leaving their lovers unsatisfied. Severine represents both European sexuality and the North American girlfriend. The North American girlfriend is getting more and more unhappy with their man's performance or lack of sexual exploration. How else can you explain how Fifty Shades of Grey has sold so many copies? Because American women are so desperate for some good action that they would rather read it in a book than give their boyfriend a map, also American sexuality is not as talked about as it is in Europe. In Europe sexuality is not a huge deal. Go to the red light district in Amsterdam and see for yourself, see European films like this one I'm reviewing right now! Sexuality is commonplace, it is not looked upon as sinful, rather something that should be explored. Severine is the exploring European.
A lesser film might have X-rated sex scenes but this one does not, instead leaving the sex to the viewer's imagination. Severine's sexual exploration furthers when she finds out their are brothels in the area that she could possibly work at. A woman named Madame Anais (Genevieve Page) offers her a job. At first she is hesitant but then accepts.Anais pushes her to newer and stranger clients. She meets a man named Marcel (Pierre Celemte) who treats her badly, the exact way she wants. They have an affair, but little does Marcel know, she doesn't care about him, rather she is engulfed in the sex.
Near the end of the film, we see a carriage on screen, this is clearly a very powerful symbol. Perhaps Severine and her husband don't really connect because she can't have a baby. This might explain her empty feeling and his lack of sexuality. She feels a great amount of pain and tries to drown it out by having sex. It's noteworthy that she doesn't take on clients who want to be punished themselves. By having sex with people she is trying to make them feel normal in a world that has labelled them as weird. Her motherly instinct combines with her raw sexuality and therefore she feels compelled not to harm her clients while having sex. Severine is quite a complicated woman, with problems that stem deep in the soul. Though her husband, and many husband's of North American wives still need to get a clue on how to please a woman. Talk about sex!
In conclusion, though there are likely many themes I have missed from Belle De Jour, I do intend to watch it a few more times. It is a complex film about complex characters who are morally ambiguous. I appreciate the film because it makes me think, mainly about sexuality and society. Show this film in Europe and you might get a standing ovation, show this film in North America and it might be met by a lot of shocked mothers. This is a film that you can't watch just once, few Bunuel films are, but I'm sure you will be amazed each time you view it. Praise it! 4/5
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