Review of Divertimento (2000) by Jake R — 10 Nov 2008

Rivette's film about the trials and tribulations of art is, typically, full to the brim with pretentious, nonsensical philosophising and musings between its endlessly gloomy quintet of characters. Stuff is said, stuff is implied, and for the most part is's little more than the pseudo-psychological babbling French cinema has always been full of. And at 4 hours long you can't have a bigger serving of it all even if you asked.

However...

That's simply fancy trappings to pander to European 'intellectuals' and cineastes. The film's real and devastating strength is in its replication of something seldom communicated sincerely in cinema: eroticism.

'La Belle Noiseuse' is all about the female form and how it infuses and inspires people to make art concerning it. One cannot dispute that the vast majority of paintings attempt to depict women as beautiful, desirable creatures. And while this seems silly to think of when seeing 'Edouard's' Matisse-like style, the film is really a painting itself, with the stunning Emmanuelle Beart as its Venus.

Marianne seems too good to be true. Spending most of the movie stark naked initial sexiness is dispensed in favour of something more sensual and sublime. With her shining bronzed body delicately draped over still objects her wavy hair framing her lush eyes and all lit with careful precision she lifts off the screen. Her presence is so seductive in its simplicity that she spiritually awakens a passion within Edouard's art and his own self. And the audience cannot differ. One doesn't feel aroused, one feels touched and made to experience and believe what real beauty is.

Rivette also celeverly shows the painstaking process behind paintings. Shots linger for long periods over the strokes and outlines of the paintings, their scrapes piercing the otherwise silent location. Come the final painting one can see the difference when knowing and seeing how art is created that it makes the end product much more important.

The timmense lenght will undoubtedly put people off, but for this kind of story it presents a very rewarding experience. It's best enjoyed when ignoring all the pretentious ramblings and just witnessing the creation of something intensely overwhelmingy erotic. Best to take a cold shower afterwards.