Any average viewer who comes across 'Limportant c'est d'aimer' will be stymied by it, and will hate it for its abstruseness, and I couldn't possibly begrudge them for doing so. Watching the films of Andrzej Zulawski is the cinematic equivalent of selecting Expert Mode to play a videogame for the first time, and even for cinephiles with substantial breadth and depth of experience in the medium Zulawski is unquestionably challenging. As if to emphasize the point, I didn't actually realize in the moment before pressing "play" that this was one of the man's works, and I really thought I knew what I was getting into based on the premise. I could scarcely have been more wrong; one might reasonably append labels of "drama" and "romance" to this picture, but it's only because those are the nearest approximations of any descriptors that might be applicable. The writing and execution bear a jolting ferociousness and unconventional, somewhat avant-garde tenor that recalls the filmmaker's twisted 1981 horror masterpiece 'Possession' more than anything else. This is forceful, emphatic, and even exaggerated in ways that recall a wide range of cinema far removed from those titles which usually share labels with this one. Strange as it is, though, I'd be plainly lying if I said it didn't raptly keep one's attention and stand out for its distinct stylistic approach. In fact, not only is it fascinating, but despite its difficulty it's also obliquely enjoyable. I'm not going to sit here and pretend I understand everything Zulawski was trying to do with this picture, but it's a curious and fantastic experience, if also absolutely suited to only a niche audience.
From start to finish and in pretty much every way the visual, auditory, and emotional aesthetic of 'L'important c'est d'aimer' isn't just dark, or bleak. Rather, while the narrative doesn't carry itself as even a "thriller," the tone in every aspect brings to mind terms like "horror," "dystopian," post-apocalyptic," or in the very least "(urban) decay." Georges Delerue's score, equally beautiful and haunting in its momentousness, alternates between themes that on the surface would be more appropriate for a sci-fi tale of world-shattering cataclysm, and themes that on the surface would fit right in with a nerve-racking horror-thriller. Ricardo Aronovich's photography is likewise stunning in its crisp, vivid, and dynamic thrust that accentuates the dire mood at every turn, and at the same time I can't help but wonder if Zulawski suggested Aronovich shoot the feature as he would a flick about demonic possession. The production design, art direction, and costume design are all marked by splendid care for detail and completeness, yet invariably project airs of a broken society and broken characters. Even the hair and makeup, excellent as they are in and of themselves, paint the cast in dour hues that make their appearances here pointedly unglamorous and downright haunted. The fundamental look and feel of this movie is one of major disquiet.
Of course the actors very much follow this ethos under Zulawski's grim guiding vision as director. I'm of the mind that everyone involved gives a strong performance, very much doing their part to bring the harsh tableau to stark, throbbing life. From one to the next the ensemble inhabit their roles with a constant dispirited presence, an unsettled state of tense, hollowed-out apprehension - not an absence of emotion, but an overwhelming panoply of the worst ones. Among the supporting cast or even primary movers some portrayals are more firm than others, though I disagree with the seemingly common opinion that the likes of Fabio Testi, Jacques Dutronc, Claude Dauphin, or Michel Robin are altogether weak. Rather, they simply pale in comparison to others on hand. Volatile, legendary, infamous Klaus Kinski may only have a rather minor role, but I don't think there's much arguing that he well outshines many of those with more prominent characters. Yet even he is merely an ant under the heel of Romy Schneider. There can be no doubt that Schneider earned her César award for her performance as Nadine, and surely deserved many more accolades, for this may have been the best turn she ever did. She sparks with astonishing, anguished, tormented vitality here, such that it's hard to drum up especial comparisons except perhaps Isabelle Adjani. Frankly, even if there were nothing else worthwhile about 'L'important c'est d'aimer' (there is), it would be worth watching just for Schneider alone. What a powerhouse!
With all this having been said, the writing is certainly where the feature gets tricky. I don't know how much of what we see is attributable to Christopher Frank's novel, how much to the screen adaptation he penned with Zulawski, or how much to Zulawski's realization of the material. One way or another, it's indisputable that aside from Schneider the chief defining characteristic of the experience here is its lofty, backhanded approach to storytelling. That some seem to think this an easier point of entry to the man's oeuvre says much about his body of work at large, for 'L'important c'est d'aimer' weaves in facets and themes that I readily admit escape me to at least some degree. I think "inscrutable' is too heavy a word, yet as much as it stands to be enjoyed by everyone on one level, and on additional levels by more attentive viewers, I can only congratulate those grasp the entirety of the plot as it presents. Be that as it may, the strength coursing through the film is inescapable, and from its dialogue to its characters and not least the buzzing, vibrant scene writing, this is delicious and satisfying even if we lack the palate to discern every last touch of its bouquet.
Zulawski is in no way a director for beginners, and one must be ready to actively engage with his pictures or not even bother taking a look. This is to say nothing of the pervasive dreary ambience, or abundant sex and nudity and considerable violence. Even if one is unable to pick up on every last minutiae, however, those who are thusly prepared will be greeted with a bounty of masterful film-making, acting, storytelling, and otherwise craftsmanship that is ample compensation for the labor that our spectatorship requires. It bears repeating that whether or not one is specifically a fan of Romy Schneider I believe this merits exploration for her acting alone, but even outside that performance there is so very much to appreciate here. It's not a title one can watch passively, but in every regard 'L'important c'est d'aimer' is worth every gloomy minute, and earns a high, hearty recommendation.
