Gradiva (C'est Gradiva qui vous appelle) (2006)

An orientalist professor researching Delacroix's North African work becomes entangled in an S&M waking dream in Morocco.

Director:

Alain Robbe-Grillet

Writers:

Wilhelm Jensen (novel), Alain Robbe-Grillet

Stars:

James Wilby, Arielle Dombasle, Dany Verissimo-Petit

Cast

Cast overview:
James Wilby	...	John Locke
Arielle Dombasle	...	Leila / Gradiva
Dany Verissimo-Petit	...	Belkis (as Dany Verissimo)
Farid Chopel	...	Anatoli
Lotfi Yahya Jedidi	...	Le mendiant
Marie Espinosa	...	Claudine
Farida Khelfa	...	Elvira
Faycal Attougui	...	Guard
Mohamen Mehdi Ouazanni	...	Commissaire Madhi
Pascal Judelewicz	...	Le photographe
Asmaa Bouafia	...	Nina
Siham Lahkim	...	Servante
Hamid Nider	...	Kaleb
Zineb Nijih	...	Djamila

Storyline

John Locke is a Brit in Marrakech exploring Delacroix's seminal visit there. He's in an isolated villa with Belkis, his enigmatic servant and concubine. He receives slides of erotic drawings that could be by Delacroix; an antique dealer, who's a doctor and may be a white slave trader, says there are two such sketchbooks. By now, Locke's dreams have become intense: they include sado-masochism with compliant young women and visions of a woman in white, who may be a nineteenth century woman executed for an affair with a Frenchman. She looks like a local actress. Against Belkis's advice, Locke accepts various invitations. Aside from dreams and tableaux, will anything real happen?

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Plot Keywords:

tied to a bed | bondage | female full frontal nudity | bare breasts | spreadeagle | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Zootrope Films [fr]

Country:

France Belgium

Language:

French

Release Date:

9 May 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

It's Gradiva Who Is Calling You

Filming Locations:

Essaouira, Morocco

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Lendemain, Acajou Films, Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 110 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Eden and After (1970)

User Reviews

It's strange that a 84 yo director doesn't yet know which way to complete a movie

It's strange that a 84 yo director doesn't yet know which way to complete a movie. In the beginning I was so hopeful about the develop of the film, maybe because of the special and magic atmosphere of Morocco, and for nice imagine of the main character, but then, during the movie, I realized that Grillet actually didn't find a line (especially for the style) to rise his work. Probably it can be caused by intricate and ambitious script, but it's evident how the director uses own cinematic culture: many references to works of other artists are more or less detectable, and the results is a weird pastiche of mannerism. Furthermore I found, and this is coherent with I've just said, the constant changes of style and rhythm are too brave and too much...I don't think the lesson of Surrealism means that, though Grillet looks like knowing very well this genre of art. In conclusion I wish to make clear that I have not been disturbed by scenes of violent mixed with sex, which appear numerous in the film.