The School of Flesh
(1998)
|
|
| 0Share... |
The School of Flesh
(1998)
|
|
| 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Isabelle Huppert | ... |
Dominique
|
|
|
|
Vincent Martinez | ... |
Quentin
|
| Vincent Lindon | ... |
Chris
|
|
| Marthe Keller | ... |
Madame Thorpe
|
|
| François Berléand | ... |
Soukaz
|
|
|
|
Danièle Dubroux | ... |
Dominique's Friend
|
|
|
Bernard Le Coq | ... |
Cordier
|
| Roxane Mesquida | ... |
Marine
|
|
|
|
Jean-Louis Richard | ... |
M. Thorpe
|
|
|
Jean-Claude Dauphin | ... |
Louis-Guy
|
|
|
Michelle Goddet | ... |
Quentin's Mother
|
|
|
Jean-Michel | ... |
Marcus
|
|
|
Laurent Jumeaucourt | ... |
The Young Plumber
|
|
|
Pierre Laroche | ... |
Robert
|
|
|
Richard Schroeder | ... |
The Photographer
|
Fashion executive Dominique's obsession for Quentin, a young bisexual hustler, fills her desire for physical love but leaves her taxed emotionally. Twists and turns in the relationship, along with the man's violent and abusive nature, force Dominique to reconcile the conflicts created by her passion. In this quest, Dominique is aided [and sometimes hindered] by friends, clients, and Quentin's former and current acquaintances. Written by kevin kraynak <kevin@kraynakk.com>
"Middle-aged divorcee picks up barman in gay bar" isn't a promising plot-line; the title's soft-porn suggestion is also off-putting. But in fact it's a delicate and attractive handling of what could have been sordid relationships. The key word, I suppose, is "tender"; we are frequently led to expect violence (the barman Quentin is a kick-boxer - we watch him attacking a punchbag during the title sequence) but are instead surprised by reasonableness and gentleness. The few nude scenes manage to be erotic without ever being vulgar. Relationships are weird, the film (and Mishima's novel) seems to say, but there can still be tenderness in life. Isabelle Huppert exudes French charm . . .