Post coïtum animal triste

Two scenes illustrate the subtlety and sophistication of this film. In the opening sequence, the image of a cat in heat is followed by that of the heroine-director writhing in the throes of a self-administered orgasm. In a contrasting scene, following some clothes-ripping sex, we see our heroine crossing the street *floating on a little cloud*.

Rather than a portrait of uncontrollable "animal" passion, this film has the feel of a manifesto: you men think you can portray female sexuality, *I* know what it's really like. But there is no genuine sensuality here, only hysterical febrility. After the sensitive portrayals of _Outremer_, rooted in historical reality, the creation of this empty cat-woman and her so-predictable stud is most disappointing. Even the implausible secondary plot of an elderly woman who murders her husband is refreshing by comparison.

For people who worry that they might be giving this film short shrift because they might not have caught all the subtitles, stop worrying. In French it's just as bad. You could miss all the subtitles and not miss anything. And it's a shame because this is a film, made by a woman, about a middle aged, married with 2 kids woman, falling helplessly in love with a much younger man. So it's the reversal of the standard scenario. Unfortunately, there is nothing here to keep us interested for the length of the film. The acting, though, is excellent.

"After Sex" tells of a comfortably successful middle aged professional women with a family who has an affair with a man 20 years her junior and goes into deep depression when he leaves. A very ordinary film in all respects, "After Sex" does not do justice to the story and mixes humor with drama schizophrenically rather than synergistically. Though the film does have its moments and is not completely devoid of appeal, it's not worth all the subtitle reading.

This is really a nice story, very true as my own experience, I believe anyone who ever been to that state or close to, things might go so tragic like that, The film is a truly reminder for all of us ---don't ever be that way when you fall in love, the ending could be whole lot different and you can get more than what it could offer. Self loving is always the infinity, the forever lesson for all of us to learn and stand on foot with it this life. We fall, then we grow. Brigitte Rouan is really a talent, she deserves more recognition than this film did. Great work as a female director, we need more of them like she is. Working on a project that might call her soul and she did it faithfully.

In Paris, the successful forty and something year old book editor Diane Clovier (Brigitte Roüan) is married with the lawyer Philippe Clovier (Patrick Chesnais) and they have teenage son and daughter. Diane meets the young engineer Emilio (Boris Terral) that is the roommate of the writer François Narou (Nils Tavernier) that is working with her, and they have an intense love affair. Meanwhile, Philippe is defending their neighbor that has killed her unfaithful husband sticking a fork in his neck and one day he overhears a phone conversation of Diane and her lover. When Emilio ends their affair, Diane gets deeply depressed missing her juvenile love, neglecting her husband and children that leave her. Meanwhile, the novel of François is published and he tries to help his self-indulgent editor to recover her emotional balance and self-esteem.

"Post Coïtum Animal Triste" is a dramatic romance about a woman in love and desire for a younger man. This film has a great performance of the director / actress Brigitte Roüan but the running time of 97 minutes is too long and the deserved a shorter edition. The situation of Diane, totally neglecting her son and her daughter, is unusual for a mother and I found her an unlikable character. The open conclusion is not clear and I do not know whether the intention of the author is to tell that Diane superseded her situation with her rebirth. I watched this movie on a VHS released by Cult Filmes distributor. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Post Coïtum Animal Triste" ("Post Coitum Sad Animal")