Brownian Movement

"Brownian Movement" or, more technically, "Brownian Motion," is the random motion of particles suspended in a medium, a concept named for Scottish botanist Robert Brown (1773-1858). It describes an observation relating to plant pollen that he first postulated in 1827.

In this story, the "particle" is Charlotte, a physician, and the "medium" is the hospital where she works. Charlotte circulates among the patients and selects them at random to engage in sexual encounters at a secret flat that she's rented. In contrast to her husband, an engineer who is handsome and masculine, her pick-ups are often physically repulsive and weak.

Others have criticized this film as dull or boring, but I found it engaging in the tradition of films by Yasujiro Ozu, Ingmar Bergman, Alain Resnais, and Agnes Varda. The visuals, especially of the illicit flat, are exquisitely composed and reminiscent of the artist Edward Hopper's interiors.

Except for one startling outburst, the film is a quiet psychological study to be savored slowly. The action is often limited to the actor's expressions and if you're looking for a fast-paced plot punctuated by lurid sex, then move on.

"Brownian Movement" is clearly an art house sort of film with little in the way of appeal to the average viewer. This isn't a criticism...more a description for the sort of audience this film is trying to reach. And, like many art house and film festival movies, it will either be adored or hated by viewers.

The film has no context. Why people do what they do, you really don't know nor does the film try to convey this. Instead, the leading character just acts...and you have no idea why or what preceded it. You can assume she's unhappy in her marriage...but you aren't 100% sure and you have no idea what the husband is experiencing through much of the story. You learn about some....but it comes across very, very slowly.

Charlotte (Sandra Hüller) has many reasons to be happy. She has a child, a handsome husband, a prestigious job. But she also has gotten an apartment where she has sex with many different sorts of men. Now the men are mostly NOT attractive and the sex is very mechanical and often totally devoid of energy or connection...it just is. Because of this, there is a significant amount of nudity and adult content. But here's where it's unusual...it's not at all sexy or attractive or stimulating to watch. It manages to do something almost impossible....make sex dull and unappealing. There are also a couple times you swear that the woman is completely insane...such as when she later viciously attacks one of her sexual conquests for no discernable reason. She also appears much of the time to be clinically depressed. What happens next...well, you can see the film and find out for yourself.

To heighten this sense of dullness and detachment, the director chose to often use a stationary camera and sometimes placed it at floor level...like the super-famous Japanse director, Ozu. There also was little in the way of dialog nor energy of any sort. If this sounds like it might interest you, be my guest and by all means watch the movie. As for me....it left me wanting to watch a comedy or romance....SOMETHING to make me feel something! The basic story might have worked had there been energy and something to make the audience care.

The bottom line is that if you are looking for porn, look elsewhere....you could find so much better. And, if you are looking for a film that is satisfying to most viewers, look elsewhere....this one will likely leave you feeling confused and cold...very, very cold.

This is an exceedingly fine film. It explores issues that arise when a marriage is put under a "pressure test" – through its exploration of cause and effect it raises the challenging question of 'what is the nature of marriage?' The issue is "what is enough?' as one of the characters asks. As the wife and husband cope with events the camera focuses on their faces for very long durations of time; this is done in total silence so we, the viewer, is given the luxury of having time to explore our own thoughts about the progress of the film, and how each character does (or one thinks, should) react.

This film flies its 'Art House' flag with pride, being slow and low key (but beautifully set and filmed). It is a film in which deep thought has gone into its making, and to do it justice it deserves the same respect from the viewer. Watch it, and see if it gives you cause to ponder the significant issues that it raises.

I had no idea what this movie would be about. But it played at the Berlin International Film Festival this year and the title sounded intriguing. Plus it did fit into my schedule. It really goes all the way and is pretty harsh and raw. While you never really get into the head of our main actress, she seems to bear it all. So this isn't for the delicate viewers amongst us.

Unfortunately it is not as good as I'd wish it would be. It tries very hard to be something poetic, something that will make you think about things. Philosophical even, if you want to call it that. And while it has really good points, it never achieves its goal.

The star's write up in the current New Yorker Magazine led me to this film. With all the predictable, derivative fare these days, it is a welcome relief. I lament all the panning user reviews, entirely missing the point.

Charlotte the brilliant research physician reminds one of the Good Doctor and Astrid Neilsen in her extraordinary professional abilities. But unlike them, she passes for neurotypical. Her relationship with her pre-school-age son is normal as apple pie.

The linguistic fragmentation of her daily life portends what will happen. She is German. She is married to an American. English is spoken at home and at work. Official stuff in Brussels is in French. The language of the streets is Flemish.

She has a crack-up, taking the form of sexual acting out with unattractive, Flemish-speaking men. The lurid sex scenes make the sheer perverseness vivid. She has encountered ugly bodies alive and dead in her time, after all. The sex is much like the drinking in Die Tage des Weines und der Rosen (1962). Only if those scenes are misunderstood out of context can one think this is mere soft-core porn.

Against all odds, her husband stands by her as the repercussions blow back. Perhaps he would not have done so, had she not been such a good lay. The moral of the story? When someone in your life experiences a crack-up, the right thing to do is be there for him/her.

While recovering, she gives birth to twins. The symbolism cannot get heavier-handed than that!

I think this film stands on the shoulders of Ekel (1965) and Belle de jour - Schöne des Tages (1967).