People accustomed to the later, mainstream work of Gerard Depardieu and director Barbet Schroeder will find "Maitresse" shocking. Heck, almost anyone will. This daring blend of romance and sadomasochism was originally rated X in America, and a graphic depiction of penis impaling alone justifies that classification. And
would you like a gratuitous shot of a horse slaughtering as a bonus?Depardieu is Olivier, a young (thin!) slacker whose friend Mario takes him along on an implausible door-to-door job selling art books. After a sexy blonde (Bulle Ogier) calls the two inside to stop an overflowing bathtub, she happens to mention that the resident in the lower apartment is away on vacation. Given their middling sales (no surprise there), Olivier and Mario decide to rob the vacant flat.Unfortunately, they discover too late that the woman lied -- she also owns the lower apartment, and uses it as a lair for her secret work as a dominatrix. She reacts to their intrusion nonchalantly and, rather than calling the police, recruits Olivier to help humiliate one of her clients. Naturally, this collaboration can only lead to love.From there, the story explores the couple's curious relationship. Olivier does not feel threatened by girlfriend Ariane's lurid encounters -- they do not involve intercourse, and Ogier never even appears nude -- but he is bothered by all the earnings she passes to her silent partner Gautier. Eventually, his investigation of Gautier threatens to end their unconventional bond.The explicit acts of "Maitresse" are not faked. Ariane's victims are actual masochists, and the whip marks on their bodies are real. The actors reportedly enjoyed the exhibitionism of appearing on film. As for the impaling scene, just try to avoid flinching. There are nails and a block of wood. Enough said.The costumes and set decoration of "Maitresse" are a wonderful time capsule of mid-'70s chic, and Depardieu's likably boyish presence will be an eye-opener to the many Americans who can't understand his contemporary superstardom. Falling somewhere between drama and perverse comedy, this film is definitely worth a peek.
April 25, 2011
