Metamorphoses (2014)

A girl is approached by a strange boy outside her high school. He asks her to follow him to hear stories where gods fall in love with human beings.

Director:

Christophe Honoré

Writers:

Christophe Honoré (screenplay), Ovid (book)

Stars:

Matthis Lebrun, Samantha Avrillaud, Amira Akili

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthis Lebrun	...	Actéon
Samantha Avrillaud	...	Diane
Amira Akili	...	Europe
Sébastien Hirel	...	Jupiter
Mélodie Richard	...	Junon
Coralie Rouet	...	Io
Nadir Sonmez	...	Mercure
Vincent Massimino	...	Argus
Olivier Müller	...	Pan
Myriam Guizani	...	Syrinx
Gabrielle Chuiton	...	Baucis
Jean Courte	...	Philémon
Rachid O.	...	Tirésias
Arthur Jacquin	...	Narcisse
Damien Chapelle	...	Bacchus

Storyline

When Europa skips class and meets a magnetic young man named Jupiter, she embarks on a journey of which she knows little as to what lies ahead. Travelling aboard Jupiter's eight-wheel truck, they arrive in a mythical land inhabited by powerful gods who can transform humans into plants or animals in the blink of an eye. Europa watches, listens, and plays in their immortal home, becoming acquainted with Jupiter's friends, Bacchus and Orpheus. As the confrontation between seductive, yet vengeful gods and innocent mortals unfolds, Europa grasps a greater sense of life and love in this revelatory modern-day retelling of Ovid's "Metamorphoses."

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Plot Keywords:

love | greek mythology | reference to the god pan | reference to orpheus | reference to bacchus | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

3 September 2014 (France)

Also Known As:

Metamorfoses

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Pelléas, France 3 Cinéma, Le Pacte

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

5 Movements: 2. Sehr langsam - 4. Sehr langsam - 5. In zarter Bewegung
Excerpts from "5 Movements for String Quartet, Op.5"
Composed by Anton Webern
Arranged by Anton Webern for orchestra (1929)
Performed by The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner
© Universal Edition AG, Vienne
(p) 1974 Decca Music Group Limited
Avec l'autorisation de Universal Edition AG, Vienne et d'Universal Music Vision

User Reviews

L'art pour l'art

Christophe Honoré is one of those typical French author cineasts: it doesn't get any artier than this. Nothing wrong with some pretentious French cinema of course. Métamorphoses has some very strong and unique moments, especially because of the transgressive way Honoré explores Ovid's mythological universe and transports it to a contemporary context. On the other hand, the transgressive style and content are harmless and even quite loyal to Ovid's poem. Seen in that way, this film isn't transgressive at all and has more of an artsy, experimental pretence. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it, but it all is quite superficial for a movie that attempts to be something much more. The cinematography is extremely beautiful though, as well as the soundtrack and some of its symbolism. But when it comes to French l'art pour l'art cinema, I think Les rencontres d'après minuit succeeds way better in its intent. Maybe because, although the film also is very autoletic, it transcends itself by subverting some bourgeois notions. Something Métamorphoses didn't do at all. But then again, maybe it's just me and my limited way of experiencing films like this.