"Belle de jour" is a film focusing on main protagonist Severine who spends her afternoons as a high-class prostitute, shrouded in secrecy from her new and well-meaning husband and her friends.
From the beginning of the film, it's apparent that director Luis Bunuel chose to depct fantastical scenes and reality as seemless. Often, you never know you're watching a fantasy until it becomes more absurd and obvious. Other times, it's subtle and difficult to tell. This creates a special and unique rythmn to the scenes that sells the subjective perspective of the main character; we feel for the character and understand what she's thinking and why she makes the choices she does.
Perhaps what makes this such a great film is the honest and truthful depiction of one character's relationship with herself and her sexual fantasies. These fantasies are suppressed and she feels like she can't honestly communicate these fantasies with her husband so the only way to live these fantasies out is by spending her afternoons as a prostitute. The film dares to ask personal and sexual questions while providing no answers. This feels enough considering I've never seen these questions truly explored by any classic or contemporary film. It's a brave and honest film that inspires one to become comfortable with their own sexuality and view it as something important to acknowledge and come to terms with. In cultures and societies where discussion of sex is so taboo, I found this film to be refreshing and emotionally moving.
As far as the craftsmanship on display, I view the film virtually flawless. Performances are brilliant across the board, the film's well cut together, shot beautifully, and rendered with attention to detail and care for the subject matter. I would recommend this film to anyone who is willing to watch such a personal film and honestly acknowledge the value it has. It's compelling, deep, and beautifully done and there's a reason why it's considered one of the best erotic film of all time. Because it genuinely is.
From the beginning of the film, it's apparent that director Luis Bunuel chose to depct fantastical scenes and reality as seemless. Often, you never know you're watching a fantasy until it becomes more absurd and obvious. Other times, it's subtle and difficult to tell. This creates a special and unique rythmn to the scenes that sells the subjective perspective of the main character; we feel for the character and understand what she's thinking and why she makes the choices she does.
Perhaps what makes this such a great film is the honest and truthful depiction of one character's relationship with herself and her sexual fantasies. These fantasies are suppressed and she feels like she can't honestly communicate these fantasies with her husband so the only way to live these fantasies out is by spending her afternoons as a prostitute. The film dares to ask personal and sexual questions while providing no answers. This feels enough considering I've never seen these questions truly explored by any classic or contemporary film. It's a brave and honest film that inspires one to become comfortable with their own sexuality and view it as something important to acknowledge and come to terms with. In cultures and societies where discussion of sex is so taboo, I found this film to be refreshing and emotionally moving.
As far as the craftsmanship on display, I view the film virtually flawless. Performances are brilliant across the board, the film's well cut together, shot beautifully, and rendered with attention to detail and care for the subject matter. I would recommend this film to anyone who is willing to watch such a personal film and honestly acknowledge the value it has. It's compelling, deep, and beautifully done and there's a reason why it's considered one of the best erotic film of all time. Because it genuinely is.