BITTER SWEET SIN
They were pure, but secretly dreamed of eating the forbidden fruit. They were fragile like roses, but fatal passion uprooted them. We present to your attention five of the most striking films about bitter and sweet sin according to art-jur.com.
RISPUTNIK (LAWRENCE DUNMORE, 2004)
He is a child of vice who repented on his deathbed. He is a hostage to his desires. John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (1647-1680), one of the most significant English poets of the era of the Restoration, an adherent of the philosophy of libertinism (a nihilistic philosophy that denies generally accepted moral norms and considers the main goal of satisfying one's needs - ed.) ...
John Wilmot (Johnny Depp) lives a riotous life at the court of King Charles II (John Malkovich): riots, disorderly relationships, insane acts are subtly combined with love for art (most of all for the theater ), poetry. It seems that in his soul there is an irrepressible passion for life and at the same time a desire to destroy it. Hatred of oneself and a person, but at the same time pain for them, which nothing can drown out. The Earl marries, but has a mistress, aspiring actress Elizabeth Barry (Samantha Morton), making her great.
He writes sharp and subtle epigrams against those in power, considering them fools, ridicules the power of reason, praising animal instincts ("Satire on Charles II" 1674, "Satire against Reason and Humanity" 1679 - approx. auth.). The count slowly, drop by drop, drinks the wine of his voluptuousness. He is always drunk with desires, a brawler, witty and a madman of his time, who lives, as if for the last time, as if he could not breathe air.
American actor Johnny Depp subtly reveals the rushing and complex soul of John Wilmot, and shows the tragedy of his fate. It is woven from contradictions, always walks along the edge of a knife and eventually falls into the abyss. Depp looks inside you with his piercing gaze, sitting in front of the camera, and it seems that you cannot resist his dark charm and sexuality. A gloomy slave to his passions, which keep him in chains until his last breath:
“And here he lies, finally, a man who believed on his deathbed, a righteous libertine. How could I live half-heartedly? Give me wine: I'll drink every drop and throw an empty bottle in the face of the world. Show me the Lord Jesus in agony and I will climb on the cross and pull the nails out of his palms to sink them into mine. I leave this world, barely dragging my feet, the spilled wine has not yet dried on the open Bible. I look at the head of a pin and see the dancing angels. Well, now you like me? Do you like me now? Now you like me ...? " - says the hero and in his epilogue - life and death.
And you, it seems, cannot help but worry about him, because he makes a strong impression on you.
The role of the Earl of Rochester is a new perception of Depp's acting skills, as he lives the drama of his character, fights for life with tears in his eyes, dying of syphilis. Interestingly, this role was bypassed. Why? Perhaps because the theme of the film, its very title, can cause public controversy? Although there are no explicit scenes in the picture: dramatic events, moments of love, intimacy are reflected in the fragile and beautiful music of the English composer Michael Nyman. It contains harmony, rebellion, and playfulness. It seems that it flows calmly, but there is strength in it.
"The Libertine" is a picture of a real thirst for life and it does not fade to the very end. A revelation film about a complex and contradictory human soul. Based on the play of the same name by Stephen Jeffries (1994).
FATAL TEMPTATION
(SOFIA KOPOLA, 2017)
Can you resist the temptation? How to save yourself when you are standing over an abyss? New painting "Fatal Temptation" based on the novel by Thomas Cullinan "A Painted Devil" 1966 tells what secrets the female soul keeps. Premiere in Russia - July 27, 2017
John McBurney (Colin Farrell), a corporal of the Northern Army during the American Civil War (1861-1865), is wounded. Half-dead, he is found by one of the pupils of a closed boarding school and the women help him to his feet. But he still does not know how this concern will turn out for him. It seems that John goes to heaven: beautiful angels fly to him to help. Around - an atmosphere of nobility, kindness and understanding. He slowly comes to his senses, communicating with intelligent and beautiful ladies. What else does a man need?
But who knows what this paradise is hiding? Behind gentle smiles, courteous looks, calmness hides an unsatisfied sexual desire, which is just waiting to be released. Kindness is replaced by exorbitant anger, jealousy, care turns into mania from a wild thirst for love .
Women rush about with passion to be close to John and the desire to maintain their purity. Is it possible? They become real devils, their once bright abode turns into hell, and John, like an innocent lamb to be slaughtered, is a victim of power-hungry women.
Sofia Coppola once again reveals a woman's theme, it seems, her beloved ( secret 1999 "Virgin Suicides" about the problems of teenage girls, "Marie Antoinette" 2006 about eccentric youth - author's note). Her women are always independent, strong, wayward and live their own lives. Coppola again shows the mysterious and attractive world of a woman from subtle intricacies, various states and invariably depth. Do you already want to know her?
ANGEL-A
(LUC BESSON, 2005)
She fell from heaven to save him. She lost her wings to find them again on earth.
André (Jamel Debbouz), a loser: he owes all of Paris a lot of money, he is being persecuted for debts. No one wants a little man. Who will understand and support him? Suddenly a long-legged blonde falls on his head Angela, an angel who has lost its wings, (Rie Rasmussen) and his life is suddenly turned upside down. She tastes earthly pleasures: dancing, entertainment, but one thing remains the main thing - she helps Andre to fight his enemies, instills in him hope and faith that he is needed, that he is loved.
“But one day an angel entered my life and opened my eyes. How good it is with open eyes. Now I can watch the sun rise over Paris, as the lights of the city at night are gradually extinguished. I see it all, Frank, thanks to her. Because she loved me for who I am, despite the fact that I have always been nothing ... "
The painting is done in a sophisticated black and white color, which creates a special romantic atmosphere: Paris lights up its bright lights, in which the heroes bathe, as in love. And this feeling gradually covers them. Angela and Andre, special images, like others in the paintings of Luc Besson (Nikita from the painting "Her Name was Nikita" 1990, Leela from the "Fifth Element" 1997 - approx. auth.). They are a little strange, in their own interesting world, but always bright. A tall angel, as a symbol of the striving for heaven, purity, and little Andre, a symbol of the earth, life with its twists and turns. But both of them are united by falling and at the same time flying into the clouds again. How could it be otherwise if love lives in their souls?
THE PHILOSOPHY OF BUDOIR MARQUISE DE SADA
(AURELIO GRIMALDI, 2005)
Purity and innocence have a downside, as in the film "The Philosophy of the Boudoir of the Marquis de Sade", filmed based on the erotic and socio-political novel of the same name in 1795 by the Marquis de Sade.
A young creature, the beauty Eugénie (Sara Sartini) comes to visit her friend, Countess (Antonella Salvuchi), but does not even suspect that this trip will change her whole life. In the rich atmosphere of the mansion, hidden from prying eyes, among the beautiful interiors, a story of voluptuousness unfolds. This is the secret knowledge that so attracts the fragile soul of Eugénie. She slowly, with shyness, but ardent desire masters it, going through her little circle of pain and bliss. The girl discovers in herself a new, previously unknown "I", completely surrenders to her desires: “the thorns have already been passed, there are only roses left” (Marquis Garden “Philosophy in the boudoir” - author's note).
Rejecting the generally accepted norms of morality, the heroes advocate freedom passions: religious dogmas, parenting, the power of reason - these are the fetters that restrain a person. Everything around, as well as good and evil, are absurd, there is nothing but the desire for pleasure.
It turns out such a subtle erotic fantasy with notes of sarcasm, a beautiful dream of freedom, which the Italian director eagerly embodies. He takes from de Sade the refinement, grace, elegance of the narrative and creates his own story about a sweet sin, the poison of which one wants to taste.
SIN. PASSION STORY
(VIKTOR SERGEEV, 1993)
Passions will haunt you if once you have tasted them, like the hero of the film “Sin. History of Passion "1993
Sergei (Alexander Abdulov) experienced a tragedy in the past: a young woman threw herself out of the window of his room. This made him renounce everything worldly and become a monk. It would seem that life becomes calm until he unexpectedly meets Nina (Olga Ponizova), who achieves his reciprocity. Fate tosses the forbidden fruit to him and it is so difficult to break away from it.
Sergei rushes between his secret desires, the devils that dance in his soul, and humility, but the angels are gradually leaving him. But were they really inside him? The monk wanders slowly in a dark labyrinth of bitter but so sweet sin. Where is the light? Where is salvation?
Nina's love turns into a real obsession: she pursues the monk, seduces him, and together they fly into the sky of bliss and at the same time fall into the abyss.
The picture seems dirty: explicit scenes, erotic dialogues, naked bodies - today this will not surprise the sophisticated viewer, but after the collapse of the USSR, when people felt the heady taste of freedom, such films were a phenomenon. Indeed, “Sin. The history of passion "is all woven from contradictions, rebel against stereotypes, morality and has the right to do so. He is imbued with a passion that does not know the framework, he lives like the last time. Although the acting leaves much to be desired, you can drop it and delve into the meaning: you will not run away from your desires. It seems that they can sleep for a long time, but when they wake up, nothing can stop them.
Text: Natalia Pushchinskaya