La morsure

Delphine and Francoise are restless, but then aren't all late 1960s private school French ingenues? Welcome to 'La Morsure,' a foray into their lives taking place largely outside the city limits at a not so wee maison over the course of Ash Wednesday night.

The chemistry between the girls gels, and their journey practically vibrates off the the silver screen, in large part due to the awesome soundtrack a la 45s at the party they attend. Then there's the choice design in hair, makeup, and clothing.

As the girls' evening unfolds there's much to digest and consider, not the least of the which is the smoldering gaze of Francoise. Hold on to your Gauloises and buckle up for pseudo broody teen angst tinged in maybe premonitions! You will be smitten for 'Bitten.'

First, there's definitely a certain aesthetic to this film. The time of that age (especially the music!) and the catholic school are captured well as also the mysteries of a teenage night and its possibilities. It is just not a real story.

As we follow the two girls through the night it feels kind of arbitrary. As watcher I was excited what will happend, but it was disappointing. Nothing really sticks out. I don't think there's a real story, maybe only mere symbolism and visuals.

The high point was maybe just the visual of kissing a "vampire" before a burning altar. The movie feels highly constructed.

...so for me just a 90min long moving portrait.

Movie seen during the Locarno Film Festival. I was blown away. Sometimes heavy, sometimes light, the story makes us float between two states and guides us, without losing us, on the trails of Françoise, brilliantly portrayed by Léonie Dahan-Lamort, who seeks to escape from a constraining reality. Accompanied by Lilith Grasmug, Maxime Rohart, Cyril Metzeger, and Fred Blin, Léonie introduces us to a universe where reality and fantasies merge, and where myths and beliefs are made and unmade.

Romain de Saint-Blanquat is the conductor and thus delivers an epic of great lyricism and undeniable beauty. Finally, the cinematography and colors are stunning.

In short: it's a BANGER !!!