Review of Belle de Jour (1967) by Matthew S — 29 Jun 2015

Luis Bunuel's Bell de Jour, power seems to grow stronger the more I've seen it.

This is a prime example of Surrealist Film put into complete action. Filmed in 1966, the film is dated. But it is clear that Belle de Jour was way ahead of the cultural curve. At the time of it's release it was considered controversial, perverse, bordering on pornography and shocking. It no longer holds that level of shock for audiences, but it bravely attempts to explores the mind of a female masochist close to 50 years ago when there was no clear understanding available. Catherine Deneuve, in all her Yves St. Laurent and blond glory, is an upperclass young married woman who has begun to find her marriage boring. Her husband, similar to a sexless Ken doll, obviously holds no erotic connection for her. Distant and cold. Alice is rather "removed" from her own life. Her day is pointless. And, with very clever editing Buñuel manages to reveal a great deal about her childhood that connects to her adult self. It is clear that she desires a force of eroticism from her husband that is beyond his understanding. When Alice hears about the existence of underground Parisian brothels where lower class housewives earn extra money. She ventures to explore this world. And, it is in this brothel that she discovers and has her sexual desires fulfilled. Alice's reality has already been mixing with fantasy long before she explores the world of prostitution, but the viewer's ability to detect "reality" from "surreality" has become challenging. As Alice begins to learn how to assert her power and sexuality as a woman, we are grappling with the differences between her reality and fantasies as much as she. Buñuel's conclusion offers two endings employing visual and audio editing but don't expect resolution or any clearly defined answer. In the end, it does not matter. The merging of the "real" with the "fantasy" is the "surreal" is, in many ways, an exceptional way to form this void. An individual who only seems to come to life when punished. The character is not intended to be fully formed. Alice is a stunted beauty at the mercy of not only her situation and those around her -- but to her eternal confusion between reality and fantasy. A cinematic masterpiece that continues to stand the test of time and presents an oddly valid connection to the root of masochism. This is essential viewing for anyone who loves film.