REVIEW: DVD Release: Belle De Jour

Film: Belle De Jour

Release date: 22nd January 2007

Certificate: 18

Running time: 101 mins

Director: Luis Bunuel

Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Jean Sorel, Michel Piccoli, Genevieve Page, Pierre Clementi

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Studio: Optimum

Format: DVD

Country: France

It has now been forty-three years since Luis Bunuel unleashed his acclaimed classic Belle De Jour. Optimum Releasing, which handled this reissue, claim that this erotic thriller is undoubtedly the director’s most accessible film, but as with his renowned surrealist movie Un Chien Andalou (1929), it’s a film to challenge the audience’s expectations.

Adapted from Joseph Kessel’s novel of the same name, we follow the uneventful life of Severine (played by Catherine Deneuve in a career defining role). Severine is an unfulfilled spouse of a surgeon. Her existence consists of nothing extraordinary - playing tennis, and going to meet friends, before her day concludes with her husband returning from work. As you can expect, their relationship is suffering from this constant daily routine, and her emotional disconnection from the world, her husband, and her loneliness eventually come to a dramatic turning point.

Severine begins to escape from reality; frequently diving into a fantasy world. This world consists of masochistic fantasies - ranging from rape to humiliation – as she longs for a better sex life. On another uneventful day, Severine overhears a friend of her husband’s mention the address of a local Persian brothel. She begins to investigate into this matter. Once arriving at the address, she decides to secretly become a daily prostitute that only works on afternoons.

Once taking on her new role, Severine tries to hide her newly found occupation from everyone - including her unsuspecting spouse. Little does she know, after an encounter with a local gangster; her secret may very well destroy her life…


The cinematography is magnificent. The framing of each shot is crafted with perfection, and the stunning locations are a sight for sore eyes. Bunuel knew how to represent true beauty on screen, and you are immersed into this striking and mysterious world via its lush visuals. On this score, the film does live up to the years of acclaim.

Likewise, Catherine Deneuve seems born to play the title role – though, the acting throughout this movie is extraordinary. Michel Piccoli is truly memorable as the wonderful Henri Husson; and Pierre Clementi as the seductive but deadly gangster Marcel stands out - stealing the limelight from Catherine Deneuve, even though her performance, equal parts sexy, confused, fidget and elegant, is perfect.

The sequences at the brothel are incredible, with the legendary clients that enter through the doors creating many memorable scenes, but whilst the deconstruction of the narrative does make for engaging viewing, and whilst many of the fantasies add depth, some (especially the final segment) come off as pretentious - obscuring the progression of the story, and throwing away tension built up in previous segments.

This release has a magnificent transfer – and the movie certainly does not look like a product of the late-60s, with crystal-clear picture quality and no hint of print damage. The extras, however, are slightly disappointing. The thirty-minute documentary Histoire du Film is more an extended interview with one of the creators of the film. A retrospective documentary on the impact of the film; for example with influential director and an in-depth interview with Catherine Deneuve would have been more fulfilling for film enthusiasts. However, the DVD does come with an insightful essay booklet entitled: The Films Of Luis Bunuel.


Belle De Jour is genuinely bizarre, surreal and hilarious at times. However, falling too often into the realms of academic study, the film cannot claim true masterpiece status. TJP

REVIEW: DVD Release: Getting Any?

Film: Getting Any?
Release date: 11th May 2009
Certificate: 15
Running time: 105 mins
Director: Takeshi Kitano
Starring: Dankan, Tokie Hidari, Beat Takeshi, Shoji Kobayashi
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Second Sight
Format: DVD
Country: Japan

Around the time of its release back in 1994, Getting Any? marked a departure from Kitano’s previous work. Up until this point, Kitano’s movies were a mix of slow burner crime thrillers (Violent Cop, Boiling Point and Sonatine) and a truly beautiful romantic drama entitled A Scene At The Sea. However, before becoming an actor and director, he was as famous as a comedian, so, in some ways, Getting Any? represent’s the real Takeshi Kitano.

The movie follows Asao. A naive and totally goofy man obsessed with sex. He tries to pursue his sex-crazed fantasies, one being to own a car and have car-sex with many different women, but after this scheme goes pear-shaped, he tries to find other ways to attract women into having sexual intercourse with him. Without ever thinking of simply getting to know a woman, he goes to ridiculous lengths to pursue this dream, plotting schemes in order to achieve popularity.

At every chance of succeeding - for example, stealing money from a bank, finding treasure or becoming an actor – Asao somehow always fails. Eventually, he gets caught up into some sticky situations, which might literally crush his dreams forever…


Those who are familiar with Kitano’s work will be aware of the style of his filmmaking. His movies tend to avoid cinematic conventions, a traditional narrative pace or structure, have sudden eruption’s of graphic violence, elements of repetition, dead pan acting, and subtle moments of comedy and slapstick – this subtlety is lost here.

Kitano once stated: “I’m a comic and famous as such, but this film is a film made by a comedian to make fun of himself. Usually, a comedian who makes a comedy takes his jokes quite seriously. Here I did anything I wanted and strung the gags together crudely.”

That statement is reflected in Getting Any?, which contains some of the funniest moments of any Kitano movie. Fans who admire the humour in his movies will be enthusiastic as Kitano throws in countless jokes and punch lines - and it’s certainly unpredictable (Kitano’s humour shifts from genius to sheer craziness, and you may wonder whether you are laughing at the jokes or the movie itself). But you couldn’t dismiss Getting Any? as simply a series of comedic sketches - in the midst of all the bizarre events that unfold, you still find yourself rooting for the pathetic central character. This is because Kitano ensures you are acutely aware of this man’s determination and desperation.

Kitano undermines and parodies many famous Japanese films and characters throughout. These include The Lone Wolf And Cub series, Godzilla, and even an entire segment parodying a later film he would make: Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsmen. These parodies completely undermine their iconic statuses - not only re-inventive but also incredibly hilarious. This is, of course, if you know these references.

In other cases, there are prolonged references to classic American popular culture films and music. The Michael Jackson parody is not that memorable, whilst the long finale - a direct reference to The Fly - borderlines on Scary Movie territory. However, this is the point that Kitano is making, he is undermining the audience with his mockery of the comedy genre. Whether you like it or not, his constant surreal comedy is both hilarious and totally bonkers.


Getting Any? certainly creates a false representation of Kitano’s work, however, if you are a fan of Monty Python or surreal comedy, this will be right up your alley. TJP

REVIEW: DVD Release: Happy Together

Film: Happy Together
Release date: 26th January 2009
Certificate: 15
Running time: 93 mins
Director: Wong Kar-wai
Starring: Leslie Cheung, Kwok-Wing, Tony Leung, Chiu-Wai, Chang Chen
Genre: Drama
Studio: Artificial Eye
Format: DVD
Country: Hong Kong

Flamboyant, camp and loud are the characteristics of a homosexual man which mainstream media has been keen to exaggerate - damaging displays of what it is to be gay dominate today’s society. I’m glad to say that these representations are a million miles away from what director Wong Kar-wai chooses to present in his 1997 outing, Happy Together.

As with most of Wai’s work, the story is limited and focuses on one particular area. We follow the on/off relationship of Lai (Tony Leung - Chungking Express, Lust, Caution) and Ho (Leslie Cheung - Ashes Of Time, A Better Tomorrow). After arriving in Argentina as a couple, suddenly they break up. Ho has been deeply affected by this event. He is trying to move on with his life, but now working in Buenos Aires as a doorman at a Tango bar, Ho unexpectedly turns up one night with another man. Suddenly all of his emotions come rushing back.

Deeply upset and angry that his ex partner has returned, Ho insists on trying his best to get back with Lai. After several confrontational violent arguments, Ho returns to Lai severely bruised and beaten. Lai begins to care for him at his small one bedroom apartment. As Lai and Ho stay together again, overtime Lai’s feelings once again start to develop. What follows are events that will test their love forever…


This is all I care to share about the movie’s narrative - the movie’s success lays in not really knowing a lot about it. This enhances the overall effect of the movie. In fairness, not a lot of events actually happen in this movie. On the other hand, Wong Kar-wai has never been a director to rush along with the development of the narrative. What we have is one of the most authentic and real representations of what it’s like to be in a relationship in cinema history.

Whether you are homosexual, bisexual, lesbian or straight; this movie captures the passion, the foundations of what makes people fall in love with someone; and also presents the effects of what being in love can do. Wai did not choose to exploit the representation of a homosexual relationship - for instance, the movie does not use graphic sex scenes for the sake of ‘shock factor’.

Unlike other gay-targeted productions, the movie works so well because it does not focus on the taboos of being a homosexual in society. The relationship could as easily be a man and woman – it just happens to be two men (they do not act in any manner that is out of the ordinary). This is what drives the movie, seeing their relationship develop over a period of time. In particular moments, Wai will have several scenes back to back in the same location. The cinematography by Christopher Doyle is once again on top form - beautifully captivating a true sense of isolation from the outside world. This makes the relationship seem more believable and on a knife’s edge.

The two characters live in poverty stricken conditions, however Wong Kai-wai manages to craft each shot like they are individual pieces of art. Although Happy Together is not as accessible as his other works, the movie is still enjoyable, making use of two powerhouse performances from Leung and Cheung in career defining roles. The tone of the movie isn’t as funny or hip as say Chungking Express, but this movie isn’t meant to be in that same vein.

Its seriousness and gripping tone throughout does make you care for the relationship. It can be argued that the brief comedic and romantic elements are lost due to the constant violent arguments and struggling desires between the two, but it’s a minor quibble.

The new print of Happy Together has been beautifully remastered for its twelve year anniversary. The sound of Frank Zappa’s guitar sounds crisper, whilst the visuals have been transferred into glorious high definition - the movie looks better than ever!

The DVD comes with an insightful making of documentary, the theatrical trailer and filmographies of both the cast and director. I just wish Wong Kar-wai gave more access to raw footage from his movies. I’d especially like to see some original takes of the argument, for example - it would be very interesting to see how he directed these crucial sequences, and how they developed.


Happy Together is a great experience. The movie looks amazing and is incredibly acted. Most importantly, it creates a representation of homosexual men that is generally lacking in film and TV today. TJP