Escargot de Vénus

Escargot de Vénus (1975)

*** (out of 4)

We start off seeing some really bizarre drawings. These overly sexual drawings show people naked, in sexual position both normal and not, then we hear the words of artist Bona Tibertelli de Pisis who then tells us about what we're looking at. VENUS ON THE HALF-SHELL is a rather interesting five-minute film from director Walerian Borowczyk. If you're a fan of his more adult pictures then I'm sure this one will keep you entertained. The drawings themselves are all quite interesting and there's certainly some eye-opening images including many that are very sexual. This here is obviously not meant for young people but, then again, I doubt too many young folks are seeking out the work of this director. This is a rather unique and surreal film that works.

Whilst planning to save the Horror film The Beast (1975) for a viewing in October,I decided that being on a run of short film viewings,to crack open the half-shell.

View on the short:

Panning the camera up the curvy lines, director Borowczyk heightens the strange surreal impression of the paintings with a slide-whistle score. Whilst it is interesting to hear artist Bona Tibertelli de Pisis, her explaining the meaning to each painting in narration does undermine the abstract impression they were first whistling.