François Ozon directs Charlotte Rampling, Ludivine Sagnier and Charles Dance in this erotic thriller where a British mystery author visits her publisher’s home in the South of France only for his gatecrashing daughter to create tensions both sexual and deadly.

I loved this when it came out. It has aged like fine vintage wine on a belated revisit. The lush hazy, horniness of it all. Sunday afternoon delight. French V English. Young V Old. Conservative V Le Super Cool Pop. Sunhats V Tiny Bikinis. Possibly the most erotic film ever made and up there with probably my favourite erotic thrillers. (Blue Velvet / Dead Calm / Basic Instinct). The dreamlike mystery element is faded into the background. This is a two hander where two gorgeous cult performers go at it. Part rivalry, part reverse psychology seduction. I love how sad sack sleazy all of Sagnier’s conquests are. She could have anyone! Like she is rubbing her shitty choices in Rampling’s face like an insult. What is Ozon trying to say about straight masculine sexuality? Clearly this is CIS Het fantasy told through a young gay man’s perceptions…

10

Perfect Double Bill: When Fall Is Coming (2024)

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