Tapage nocturne

Here's a real curiosity. This film isn't mentioned in my film guides; it seems to have disappeared from view over the decades, and the stars have all died young or had their careers cut short for various reasons. Dominique Laffin had a promising career in film--she was excellent in comedy--but died at 33. Bertrand Bonvoisin died of cancer at 39. Marie-Helene Breillat, sister of the director, had to give up her career owing to mental problems. Only Catherine Breillat has gone on to a solid career.

So, what of TAPAGE NOCTURNE? It's a feeble effort about a girl who sleeps around for no real reason; the production is almost primitive, sets austere (no money), script weak. I gave up trying to analyze the characters' motivations--they didn't appear to have any. Laffin wasn't even given any real zingers to liven things up; all she had to do was show us her splendid breasts. I must thank Criterion Channel for allowing me to see this.

I saw this movie in original, unsubtitled French, and since I am a bit lackluster in this department I must admit that I might have well missed some of the finer points of the movie's dialogue. That said, it struck me as a typical Brilliant movie ... lots of top - heavy dialogue to the tune that a woman's feelings are ever so mysterious, which serve as an excuse for the (as always, stunningly beautiful) lead actress to get her kit off and prance around half - naked a lot. Calling it pretentious soft porn is probably a bit unfair, but not far off the point -- it seems to me that Cathérine Breillat's ambition far outweighs her ability as a movie maker.