Trailer courtesy of Curzon Cinemas.
★★★
“A sensitive French study of erotic obsession”
“In sensual romantic drama Simple Passion, Lebanese-born director Danielle Arbid captures viscerally that peculiar detachment that comes from romantic and sexual infatuation.”
A big thank you to Curzon Cinemas and The Tandem Collective for providing me with a box of Simple Passion-related treats and access to watch the film from home this February!
My Thoughts:
A man and a woman are brought together by chance for several months. The film follows the evolution of their ‘love’, from the beginning to end. And it’s impossible not to mention the soundtrack. The song choices are excellent throughout and fit perfectly with the mood on screen.
This is a drama about a Parisian professor's aching need for her evasive married lover. Hélène is a single mother and University lecturer in a heated sexual relationship with the mysterious, Alexandre. She is a beautiful teacher and researcher, with her feet firmly on the ground. He is younger than she is, married, Russian, and officially a diplomat stationed in Paris.
Their arrangement is purely physical, yet her desire for him becomes an all-consuming obsession, as she loses her grip on the rest of her life, including her son.
It is a story of two halves. I found the first part of the film quite difficult to engage with. Initially it felt that there was too much sex, and very little plot to balance things out. At times I found my attention span drifting and honestly, there is a palpable lack of chemistry between Helene and Alexandre that had me wondering why on earth she was so invested in him. The sex scenes quickly become repetitive, and it took a while before I felt genuinely invested in the story.
During an especially hectic encounter, Hélène excitedly tells Aleksandr that she loves him, twice – and he is too arrogant to respond. It’s obvious Helene is heading for a fall, but she just can’t see it. Her longing is highlighted in the second half of the film, and this is when things become much more intriguing. We see her humiliation emphasised as Helene slowly begins to realise that her love is unrequited.
Simple Passion expands on Annie Ernaux’s confessional 1991 novella of the same title. The film explores how acutely the 14-month affair altered her identity – so entirely that for a short time her existence had absolutely no meaning for her in his absence. I found the ending really quite powerful. Yes, she certainly became too invested and obsessed while being lost in the affair, but ultimately Helene realises that she is capable of living without him. I was so glad to see her realise it and ultimately make the right decision for her. And that final song choice is perfect.
Overall Reaction:
My Thoughts:
A man and a woman are brought together by chance for several months. The film follows the evolution of their ‘love’, from the beginning to end. And it’s impossible not to mention the soundtrack. The song choices are excellent throughout and fit perfectly with the mood on screen.
This is a drama about a Parisian professor's aching need for her evasive married lover. Hélène is a single mother and University lecturer in a heated sexual relationship with the mysterious, Alexandre. She is a beautiful teacher and researcher, with her feet firmly on the ground. He is younger than she is, married, Russian, and officially a diplomat stationed in Paris.
Their arrangement is purely physical, yet her desire for him becomes an all-consuming obsession, as she loses her grip on the rest of her life, including her son.
It is a story of two halves. I found the first part of the film quite difficult to engage with. Initially it felt that there was too much sex, and very little plot to balance things out. At times I found my attention span drifting and honestly, there is a palpable lack of chemistry between Helene and Alexandre that had me wondering why on earth she was so invested in him. The sex scenes quickly become repetitive, and it took a while before I felt genuinely invested in the story.
During an especially hectic encounter, Hélène excitedly tells Aleksandr that she loves him, twice – and he is too arrogant to respond. It’s obvious Helene is heading for a fall, but she just can’t see it. Her longing is highlighted in the second half of the film, and this is when things become much more intriguing. We see her humiliation emphasised as Helene slowly begins to realise that her love is unrequited.
Simple Passion expands on Annie Ernaux’s confessional 1991 novella of the same title. The film explores how acutely the 14-month affair altered her identity – so entirely that for a short time her existence had absolutely no meaning for her in his absence. I found the ending really quite powerful. Yes, she certainly became too invested and obsessed while being lost in the affair, but ultimately Helene realises that she is capable of living without him. I was so glad to see her realise it and ultimately make the right decision for her. And that final song choice is perfect.
Overall Reaction: