Review of Venus in Fur (2013) by David E — 16 Aug 2014

Adapted from the Tony Award winning Broadway play, which is based on Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's sexually deviant novel, Venus in Fur is Roman Polanski's latest play adaptation. The film features only two characters, the writer-director of the play Venus in Fur and an ironically named actress auditioning for the female lead.

As they act out the play they engage in a complicated and often erotic relationship that slowly begins blur the line between reality and fiction. Like Polanski's last adaptation Carnage, Venus in Fur is smoothly directed and expertly acted.

Using darkly comedic and erotic S&M elements the film, albeit slowly at first, becomes a highly entertaining journey into absurdity.