Movie Review- "The Last Mistress"

I've been really in the mood for a heavy drama as of late. Nothing on TV I've seen recently did the trick. I suppose I could have watched something I already own, but I'm not sure that would have sufficed. So I headed to a local picture house. I watched "The Last Mistress." I was not disappointed. It did exactly what I wanted it to. This is a French film, directed by Catherine Breillat.

Before beginning my review, let me put forth some ideas on non-American directors. I do like some foreign films. I don't have enough exposure to foreign cinema to call myself anything other than a casual observer. Most of what I've seen, I've enjoyed. I am not a very discriminating aesthete. Nor am I a any sort of cinematic elitist. It may sound axiomatic to cinephiles, but I do enjoy the films of Kurosawa and Bergman (Japan and Sweden, respectively). I've seen other foreign films, and have liked most of them. This film gave me an introduction to Catherine Breillat. I have heard that she is a very provocative filmmaker, a true artist. This is my first exposure to her work. Based on this, I'm ready for more.

One more thing I've noticed about world cinema vs. American films. For sheer production values, American movies have the market cornered. However, for plot and acting, as well as willingness to explore things a bit more deeply, the non-Americans win hands down. There are exceptions, and I could probably list them if I thought about it, but I'm kinda pressed for time.

So, on with the review...

This is a period piece set in 1830's France. It's about a guy who is getting married to a woman of high standing in that polite society. He's had the same mistress for about 10 years, and people wonder whether or not he'll be able to give her up after such a long entanglement. he bulk of the film is told in flashback, which I normally don't like, but the flashbacks are long enough to actually say something. Anyway, There's this long romance between the 2.

The acting is quite good. Having no previous exposure to these actors, I could not evaluate their performances against previous performances they had given (see Heath ledger in my review of "The Dark Knight"). All players did a fine job. I felt that Asia Argento (in the role of the mistress) played her part extremely well. She really convinced me that she was a mistress in a tempestuous relationship.

I hate to disappoint my dear readers, but I cannot give a grade for the "That Guy" factor. I'm sure if I were more in touch with French cinema, I would recognize someone. Alas, I cannot.

The discussion factor, though, is moderately high. The issues it raises are obviously fidelity and keeping up appearances in society. Some larger issues would be: what is the nature of love? How does one express love? Is that love and its expression shaped by society? Should it be?

I would definitely recommend seeing this film. It would serve, ideally, as a good first foray into foreign films (though, in my humble, non-professional opinion Benigni"s "Life is Beautiful" is a better choice for that).

Acting: A-
Directing: A
That Guy Factor: N/A
Overall rating: A-