La mécanique des femmes

Yesterday, I attended a screening of this film at the Montreal World Film Festival. The director, Jérome de Missolz, presented his film as a lyrical, taboo breaking depiction of feminine sexuality: what rubbish!

La Mécanique des Femmes can only be described as a misogynous depiction of female sexuality. To make matters worse, the plot of this movie is simply non-existant, not to mention the complete lack of character development. I felt in no way connected to a single character in this ridiculous film!

I actually sat through this nonsense, hoping that it would somehow get better, or perhaps redeem itself with a brilliant ending. What was I thinking? I should have taken a cue from the 30 or so of my fellow moviegoers, who walked out of the theatre. Honestly, they were dropping like flies. I've never seen a film that was met with such obvious universal disapproval. It was disconcerting. I truly felt embarrassed for the director.

I must articulate that I was in no way offended by this film. In fact, very little offends me, as I am extremely open-minded. However, what I did feel was annoyed and cheated. I expected something profound, and instead was provided with a demonstration of just how absurd, ludicrous, blatantly laughable a film can be when somebody tries too hard, or not hard enough - depending on how you wish to look at it - to create something "insightful".

If you are interested in seeing a film that truly is a lyrical, taboo breaking depiction of feminine sexuality, allow me to recommend Romance (1999), a film written and directed by Catherine Breillat. Perhaps the fact that she actually is a WOMAN could suggest why this film, unlike Mécanique, is a pertinent reflection of the female psyche.

I didn't expect anything as I never read the book of Calaferte, nor I've seen any movie done by the same director. I even didn't know any actor except (surprise) the singer and former model Amina. I must say too that I am not against boring movies, I love Pasolini, Tarkovski or Kubrick, because their boring movies give me something anyways : great stories, things to think about for a whole life, great characters. I must say too that I'm not against movies talking about sex, whether they do it in an artistic, politic or even pornographic way... Well well well... Here, we have a self-contented movie about women and sex. The author (of the book ?) doesn't know much about women I'm afraid (but I'm sure he has a she-cat), and the director can film anything but sex (good point is that the actors won't be embarrassed but what they did on screen, as it is never even a little "hot"). But that terrrrrible movie, really terrible, is well photographed. The night scenes of Paris peripheric boulevard are nice, all the outside scenes are nice actually. That's one good point. For the rest, well, well, well, Mr director, pick a good book next time.

This movie reminds me in some vague way of an American film called "Splendor" released about the same time. It's truly terrible; hopefully the director is out of business by now and back to waitering in Paris. The main male character, who barely utters a word, seems to represent a fat, sweaty Penis in the film, while the women are mostly strung-out whores all having sex with this same Penis, rambling on neurotically about their issues. Somehow, the "mechanics" of women is deeply intimated through all of this. I doubt any women would care for it, some men may enjoy the sex scenes. I would recommend turning it on if you're having insomnia.