The Lover (92)(L'Amant). (Thoroughly French in feel, but originally in English.)

It doesn't entirely count towards the premise since she only has one lover in the film. But.. she's supposed to be only 15 at the time, it's based upon the early parts of the autobiography of the famous French writer Alexandra Duras, and the actress looks about 17. Also what she does is thoughly slutty.

As the daughter of a downward moving widow in French colonial Vietnam, she allows herself to be very easily seduced by a rich, good looking 32 year old Chinese playboy. And to be kept as his mistress. He doesn't work -- but lives for sex. Mostly with her. She works to keep it just intense, games playing sex, but doesn't entirely. It's also emotional for both of them. But it's not about full romantic love either -- and never about monogomy or commitment. It's more about self conscious exploration, adventuring, rules violation (her school and rather slaternly family are scandalized, as much for the interracial aspects), and being a future writer getting edgie life experiences, than it is about becoming, eventually a paid mistress / whore. Actually, she gets off on the shame of that at one point.

Although most of the film isn't about the actual sex, there is some very erotic softcore stuff that goes on in extended scenes. Given her purported and visual age this is very edgie for an American released film. She never seems like a young teenager though. Rather a just ripened teenager with a very sensual air about her. Film defintely plays with her own intentional self corruption. Which comes straight from Duras, I understand.

Slow paced so you have to like that sort of Euro feel. DVD comes out this December.

Edited by - dexplorer on Sep 25 2001

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I'm really bumed at myself about that flick. It was playing in theaters (well A theater) here in Manhattan for a number of weeks this summer. I noticed it then, and really intended to go see it.

But it got away from me. Other stuff going on, and I just got back into the city near the end of its run.

Bummer.

It will probably be about two years before it shows up on DVD or even VHS over here. If it even does at all, that is.

I don't suppose you know if the video you said was out in France is also on DVD in Europe, do you? With an English subtitles DVD option for the Brit market?? (Hope, hope.) (I've got a play any region DVD unit, which also translates PAL > NTSC.)

Edited by - dexplorer on Sep 25 2001

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By the way -- WELCOME!

I think you'll find there is a good atmosphere in these parts, and lots of knowledgeable people. I'm not affiliated with it in any way, but do find its a good place.

There's also some other French guys around. <g> Not too many self announced (other than lurkers), but one or two anyway.

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Beware that it is very violent and there's a pretty graphic rape scene which if it makes u hard, you must be quite sick :-)

DVD cover[/url) Edited by - French guy on Sep 26 2001

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From what I've read about Baise Moi, I don't expect to find it an erotic turn on. It just interests me. I like seeing edge pushing stuff. I like the idea of films erasing the X and NC-17 (or unrated foreign) boundaries, by occupying spaces firmly in between. (I think our NC-17 is like your age 18 rating, only ours DOES get put on every once in awhile. Now if its foreign and looks to get an NC-17, these days distributors usually just avoid getting it rated at all.) For example, I liked "Romance" quite a bit. (Which of course is about anything but.)

But I think I will wait to see if I can find English subtitles on Baise Moi.

BTW lurkers, you might be interested to know that one of the two female leads in Baise Moi (the better one, from what I've read) is played by porn actress Karen Bach, aka Karen Lancaume, who is said to be able to act. She has a good anal scene in Masquerade for example, as well as a three girl dom/sub (light) lezzie one.

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well we have mixed reviews over this movie. We have those who would consider as a piece of thrash (which was maybe the message the author wanted to send) others would see it as avant garde piece of art cause it was so raw (European audience like to be shocked) Personnaly I thought it was a bitter person towards the male gender who wrote it which quite understandable since she was a rape victim and a former hooker. In this movie, all the males were low life scumbags which I found quite extreme statement.
The two main actresses are former porn performers and they have nothing but bad mouthing about adult business. They both have the "Linda Lovelace" syndrome if u know what I mean.

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The cynical side of me says that these actresses find it easier to be taken seriously and make the jump (they hope) to mainstream / art film if they trash their porno experiences.

Well, in the Politically Correct 90's/00's it was probably inevitable that the first real boundary crossing XXX / NC-17 films take a hostile feminist point of view. More easily accepted as "art" that way by the camps most likely to be up in arms (other than the religicos, who are going to be up in arms about these sorts of films regardless). (Well, maybe you get less of that in France, I think. You couldn't possibly get MORE of it than we do here. <gg>)

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