Review of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006) by Edwin L — 06 Feb 2010

The story of a 18th century Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Grenouille , born and abandoned in a fish market , to later be sold as a slave and finally become the master of the most divine and hypnotic scent on Earth.

Our creepy unsympathetic friend has the strange gift of recognizing scents, both distant and close. He also has no body odour what so ever making him a master stalker/serial killer.

From the director of "Run Lola Run" Tom Tykwer , I found this very faithful to the novel by the late Patrick Suskind.

This is a rare mixture of a horror, thriller, sexually perverse fable, told by narrator John Hurt.

My only problem was the part of Dustin Hoffman as the Master Perfumer Baldini. Don't get me wrong about Dustin skills as an actor, but his presence almost seems as a cameo for the purpose of Comic relief and a box office name. Had Baldini been played by a less known actor, the films unpleasant mood would have had a greater impact.

This of course is a personal opinion which was soon ignored and will probably not bother most viewers.

None of the characters are portrayed in any sympathetic way, leaving the viewer alienated of compassion for anyone.

The photography is stunning, the editing elegant, the lighting so slick you can almost smell the foul odours portrayed on the screen.

A visually stunning delight that should please most fans of the novel. Mostly filmed is Spain, some in Croatia.

A nice soundtrack by the Berlin Philharmonic composed by director Twyker himself and a couple of friends.

My mother in law , being a fan of the book found this disgusting an repugnant. (and no, I didn't suck up and watch Perfume with her).

Definitely not for all tastes but if you are into bleak, perverse humour with sexually demented undertones , you're in for a great treat.

Highly recommended for all the kinky little devils out there.