I?m a little surprised that I enjoyed this film ? I had vague ideas about what it would be like, having heard OF it, but not really ABOUT it, and it actually exceeded my expectations. I thought it was going to be nothing more than a thinly veiled sex-fest full of pretension ? for die-hard Brando fans only. Fortunately, it?s more than this (admittedly rather cynical!) assessment. Just as well; at 129 minutes, it could?ve been a real drag.

It?s quite a ?slow? film, so it took me a while to get into the mood, and just when I thought the plot was losing momentum, it added another level of interest, keeping me hanging in there, waiting for explanations. I?d call it a ?slow reveal? film. We are (without Hollywood fanfare) given clues to help piece together the emotional makeup of the two main characters, Paul and Jeanne. I don?t want to give the story away, as ?discovering things? in this film is the best part of it! I?ll only reveal the overall vibe by saying that two drifting characters meet by chance in a vacant Paris apartment, igniting passion in each other, and things move forward precariously from there. We are voyeurs as their lives are slowly revealed to us. It?s simple, yet it got me to a level where even just finding out the characters names was kinda exciting, and the film deliberately teases us like this all the way to the end. I initially felt Paul?s (Brando) ?no names? attitude to their liaisons was hugely wanky, but my opinion softened as the film progressed and I came to realize that there were things going on in these characters lives that made it seem ?right?. Clearly, there are a few issues to be resolved on both sides of the ?emotional fence?. I?m not quite sure WHY the ending unfolds as it does, but it certainly raised my eyebrows! I like surprises!

Brando and Schneider are well cast, and Schneider?s heavily accented English is so lovely to listen to. The settings around Paris are a little on the seamy side, but it fits with the darker elements of the couple?s journey, and you?ll find many, many scenes that are dimly lit throughout. I?ve always enjoyed an ?atmosphere? in films, and Bertolucci, as director, has simply captured visually what is brewing emotionally. This film is an Italian/French co-production, which may explain the predominantly Italian cast! They must?ve worked out a deal ? French city, largely Italian cast. Whatever ? it works well, and I would happily recommend this film. Slow, but worth the trip.

THE EXTRAS

Not much on offer except for languages. Scene selection, an original theatrical trailer, and language selections are included. MGM, like Paramount, seem to be generous when it comes to languages, which is great. In this case, this section rates two stars for this reason alone. Audio (dubbed) languages are offered in English, German, French and Spanish. Subtitles are offered in English (and Hearing Impaired), German (and Hearing Impaired), Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish and Polish. Not bad, eh?! The original dialogue is predominantly English, but French is also spoken throughout as the film is set in Paris. I needed English subs to get the full effect of the dialogue, but if you?re an English-speaker who prefers not to ?read? your way through a film, choose the English audio version.

CONCLUSION

I don?t want to say much about the specifics of the plot in this Academy Award nominated 1972 film ? not knowing what to expect only added to my enjoyment of this artful piece, set in Paris, and directed with flair by Bernardo Bertolucci. It?s slow to develop, and lengthy at 129 minutes, but it did suck me into the lives of the two main characters, ably played by Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider. Rated R mainly due to nudity and sex scenes, there?s more to the story than just meeting on the sly for a quickie! Definitely interesting, if a little seedy, and Schneider is quite hypnotic. Language options are decent, but ?extras? stop about there; the film doesn?t need support, anyway.