Bluebeard
2009 ‘Barbe Bleue’ Directed by Catherine Breillat
Synopsis
An adaptation of the classic tale of a wealthy aristocrat with a blue beard.
Cast
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The story is a pretty straightforward telling, with a slight feminist twist-- one sister gladly taking on whatever would help her family, with the other raging at the situation they, as women, are stuck in.
If it weren't for the two girls commenting on the story from another era, it would be completely dull. Those two are the life and charm of the film, and I only wish more were done with them.
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An interesting fairy tale from Breillat, chronicling the marriage of a young girl to a notorious gentleman in 18th century France. The key strength of its film is in its quietly horrific tone as a forty- or fifty- something man suspected of killing all his previous wives takes a teenaged bride in need of money for her family. Breillat uses silences and absences to effectively heighten the tension. The contemporary reading of the story offers an effectively creepy counterpoint to the tale as well.
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Surprising in so many different ways, from the use of the frame tale and its integration with the fairy-tale story to the twists and turns of both narratives. Each ending seems in retrospect abrupt in a way that's not well arranged, but that's not necessarily a legitimate gripe given how involved I was in the film as it played out.
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A movie with a very unique atmosphere and imagination. Breillat broadened my mind on what is possible to create on cinema.
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I was really interested in seeing this because I studied the story of Bluebeard for my folklore class. The little girl who was the one telling the story was a phenomenal actress. She was interesting, hilarious and down right adorable.
But honestly, I don't see how this film has any accolades at all. It has all the mediocrity of a middle school stage production, all the action is missing leaving the film too short and the ending is fast, nonsensical and unexplained. -
what the fuck is this movie ?
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Catherine Breillat's hypnotic and layered retelling of "Bluebeard" effortlessly mines the French folktale for evocative images, resonent concepts and political dimension. Visually the film's airy, made-for-television aesthetic recalls BBC and PBS productions of both fairy tales and classic literature.
Dominique Thomas as Bluebeard is a mountain, an imposing lord more visual idea than character, set in almost comic contrast to adolescent Marie-Catherine (Lola Créton), another in a long succession of mysteriously-dispatched child brides. While the tone is narcotic, moments of graphic violence and arresting tableaux punctuate otherwise sedated sequences. Breillat delivers a deceptively small gem.
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3.5 out of 5 (B)
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A bit slow, but nonetheless beautiful to look at. Not a simple telling of the tale as there are different layers and readings built in. Worth watching.