Repulsion (1965)

A sex-repulsed woman who disapproves of her sister's boyfriend sinks into depression and has horrific visions of rape and violence.

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Roman Polanski (original screenplay), Gérard Brach (original screenplay) (as Gerard Brach)

Stars:

Catherine Deneuve, Ian Hendry, John Fraser

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Catherine Deneuve	...	Carol
Ian Hendry	...	Michael
John Fraser	...	Colin
Yvonne Furneaux	...	Helen
Patrick Wymark	...	Landlord
Renee Houston	...	Miss Balch
Valerie Taylor	...	Madame Denise
James Villiers	...	John
Helen Fraser	...	Bridget
Hugh Futcher	...	Reggie
Monica Merlin	...	Mrs. Rendlesham
Imogen Graham	...	Manicurist
Mike Pratt	...	Workman

Storyline

In London, Belgian immigrant Carol Ledoux shares an apartment with her older sister Helen, and works as a manicurist at a beauty salon. Helen uses the word "sensitive" to describe Carol's overall demeanor, which is almost like she walks around in a daze, rarely speaking up about anything. When she does speak up, it generally is about something against one of those few issues on which she obsesses, such as Helen's boyfriend Michael's invasion of her space at the apartment. That specific issue may be more about men in general than just Michael's actions, as witnessed by Carol being agitated by hearing Helen and Michael's lovemaking, and she not being able to rebuff the advances effectively of a male suitor, Colin, who is infatuated with her. One of those other obsessive issues is noticing cracks and always wanting to fix them. While Helen and Michael leave on a vacation to Pisa, Italy, Carol chooses largely to lock herself in the apartment, ditching work. There, she is almost hypnotized...

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Plot Keywords:

female protagonist | mental illness | hallucination | delusion | fear of sex | 

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Taglines:

"A classic chiller of the 'Psycho' school!"

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Roman Polanski first announced this, he stated the actress he required would have to be "an angel with a slightly soiled halo".

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Goofs

Near the beginning of the film, when Carol has gone out to lunch from work and is walking on the street past the Saloon Bar, the shadow of the camera can be seen on her blouse.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mrs. Rendlesham: Have you fallen asleep?
Carol: Oh, I'm sorry.
Mrs. Rendlesham: I think you must be in love or something.

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Alternate Versions

Entertainment Programs Inc. DVD release only runs 100 minutes (despite the 105 minute running time listed on the package).

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Connections

Referenced in May (2002)

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Soundtracks

Seduzione Al Buio
Written, Arranged and Conducted by John Scott
Performed by John Scott and Chico Hamilton

User Reviews

The best film I've seen in a long time

This film, the first Polanski made in English, works so well, and for so many different reasons, that I felt like I had to watch it again as soon as it ended.

From the first moments of the movie, Polanski sets up the key conflict, cutting between shots of Catherine Denuve's gorgeous face and of the things she is seeing, all of which are almost frighteningly ugly by comparison. After fifteen minutes of this, it becomes clear why Denuve's Carol is unable to cope with anything in the world around her, and why she is so dependent on her sister and her attractive female co-worker, who provide the film's only beauty other than Denuve. When her sister leaves her alone, her surroundings decay further into ugliness, sending her deeper into her madness. I loved the way that despite Carol's growing insanity, Polanski keeps going back to closeups of her face, which remains beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that no one can seem to notice that she is clearly very deranged.

The only question the film left me with is this: How could Carol possibly survived for an entire lifetime up till the point where the film began?

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Repulsion

Filming Locations:

Thurloe Place, South Kensington, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$33,174

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compton Films, Tekli British Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1