Nana: Le désir

I'm into finding more obscure/less mainstream films to watch but this one didn't do it for me and the young age of the lead actress was already a red flag. But the fact that there's real-life incest of sorts that's glossed over shocks me even more so. Never watching this again.

Usually I don't review anything I haven't watched in its entirety, but it was 2 at night, half an hour still to go, and I was certain that I would not miss anything of value by going to sleep. (Was anything produced by Golan and Globus ever of value?) There are two major problems in this film. First is the plot: too many scenes are individual sketches that don't connect to anything. Not that this is a surprise in softcore porn... The second, and worse, problem is Katya Berger. She is supposed to bewitch every man in the film but I totally fail to see how. All I saw was a little girl with zero acting abilities, not even that pretty. OK, the green eyes are cute in close-up, but several other women in the film are far better-looking.

Nothing else is too convincing either. What seemed interesting at first was the presence of the legendary Georges Méliès as a character. There, too, is a dual problem: the two examples of his films do not look like genuine films of the era, and they have none of the inventiveness that was his trademark.

It states 'comic, drama'. I couldn't find anything comical in there.

The setting is perfect, what one would expect from Zola. Acting by Katya Berger ... already difficult to judge. In itself it is naught; as Nana it does fit.

A captivating narration by Zola about the 'fickle women' (Shakespeare). In this sense this movie deserves full marks. It shows a rather emotionless ascent of a woman, rather an adolescent, to what her attraction can get her. In this sense, close to full marks.

On the other hand, if one perceives movie making as having a meaning beyond mere photographing, as analytic process, also displaying inner sentiments, doubts, motivators; this movie is a clear fail. Katya Berger as Nana just swirls around from scene to scene, until - sooner or later - her seemingly never reflected drive for more and more reaches its logic end.

All in all, definitely deserving better than the current 4,4.

Nana DVD "Rare" Young Katya Berger plays many Nude scenes in the unedited version,Rated R contains extensive nudity, Katya is a absolute beauty! Young Katya Berger bares a lot of skin in this costume drama about a young Parisian lady who finds work at a burlesque club and then takes advantage of the perverts who come there. The film takes place in the 1880's, one of the stars of the club has created movies, the movies created were not very exciting but nudity all the same and very tame for today's standards. Mandy Rice-Davies, who helped bring down the British Government years ago, appears in this film. Costume drama for completest or those who want to see a poor man's Brooke Shields/Eva Ionesco, anyway you put it Katya is a stunning beauty that could steal any older man's heart and that is exactly what she did in this movie, very seductive, sexy and gorgeous all in one bundle! A true must have and to own.

Purview

Nana (1982) was an "erotic" film that was loosely based upon the Emile Zola novel. I saw this film when I was in high school on pay cable during the late 80's. There was only a couple of scenes that made the movie enjoyable. The rest was pretty lame, tame and filler. I have to warn you that the movie is pretty "Euro" and some people will be turned off by the "realism" of the way women are shown in this movie. But if you love the "au natural" look, then you'll be in heaven.

Today this film is pretty hard to find. I don't think that their was a strong demand for this film on video. But seriously, I wouldn't go out of my way searching for a copy.

Okay, not thrilling. Just okay.