I love doing movie reviews. Although I do prefer horror flicks and comedies, I am always open to other genres. It’s fun to review movie that I might not otherwise rent, purchase or see in the theater. Some movies that I have reviewed for She Scribes have actually ended up being some of my most favorite films.
I had the opportunity to step outside the types of movies I would normally watch to review a rather interesting film called Moon in the Gutter.
Here is the movie synopsis;
Gérard (Gérard Depardieu) is an emotional wreck following the rape and suicide of his sister and is obsessed with finding the man who attacked her. After lurking around the streets, he meets Loretta (Nastassja Kinski) and begins a relationship, much to the chagrin of his girlfriend, Bella. Gérard must decide if he wants to be with Loretta or Bella, just as he discovers evidence that may reveal who raped his sister.
Just from the synopsis you can tell that it’s going to be a “deep” movie. It’s also a French foreign film.
This is not a new movie. This movie was originally released in 1983. I never heard of it until now.
Gérard Depardieu and Nastassja Kinski look so young in this film. In fact I barely recognized them. He looks nothing like he did in the film My Father the Hero (1994).
The story line for Moon in the Gutter was very deep. Gérard’s beloved sister in raped and then kills herself. That alone gives the movie a sad and depressing overtone.
Sadly I had a hard time following the storyline. I got more caught up with the cinematography. I think this film is more so about the “art” of the film then the actually story. I’m not sure if the correct terminology is avant garde? There were a lot of close ups of people’s eyes as they were talking (just their eyes, not their whole face or mouth). The camera also panned around people in an unusual way and at other times focused on things other then that characters. I found it all rather confusing, which I think is the reason why it threw me off from the storyline.
According to a press release the film was shot in 35mm, which adds to the unusualness of the film. It almost seems like it was film was shot many decades ago, much longer then 1983.
Moon in the Gutter is by Jean-Jacques Beineix. He is often described as innovative, provocative and deep. He is also one of France’s most celebrated filmmakers.
Beineix started as an assistant director in France, before directing his first short film. In 1981, he directed his first feature, Diva, a stylish thriller that became a word-of-mouth sensation eventually winning four César awards. Beineix later followed up with this movie, Moon in the Gutter (also known as La lune dans le caniveau), which Fernando F. Croce of CinePassion calls “an extravagantly elongated trance.”
I wanted to like the film. I really did. But the story line didn’t keep my interest.
I found some of the film techniques interesting, but better suited for a film class. In fact I would recommend this movie if you are interested in the many aspects of filming.
The film has been re-released and is now available on Blu-ray.
Added bonus features include;
- Beineix’s first short film, Mr. Michel’s Dog.
- Jean- Jacques Beineix’s Interview with Tim Rhys, Publisher of MovieMaker Magazine.
- Film Photo Gallery.
If you like foreign films or movies that go out of their way to take advantage of as many film techniques as possible, then you might enjoy this film.
This movie is put out by Cinema Libre Studios.
Kimberly
*I received a free screener copy in order to do this review. There was no compenastion. The opinions expressed are my own.
