Not another maniac flick

onembaby

I just saw this film which was released in Russia on September 14. I predict this movie will arouse disputes concerning all of its aspects: director's style, Ben Wishaw's contribution to the image of protagonist, the (possible) miscast of Dustin Hoffman (though I think he was incredible as Baldini), etc… I've got plenty of thoughts on it, but English isn't my native language so I'd better be short. I'm not a movie critic; I'm a mere mortal who really likes good movies. From this point of view Perfume is a brilliant feature. There are two things about it which I admire the most:

1. Director's interpretation of the story which is much more sentimental and at the same time more humane than Suskind's oeuvre itself. What Tykwer has described is a character's journey in quest of recognition and love, while what Suskind had narrated in a cold, distanced manner is the story of an inhuman vanity of a great madman.

2. Ben Wishaw's vision of Grenouille as a monster born into a monstrous world, who step by step is being transformed into a human with his suicide in the end being the highest point of his spiritual renaissance. This film is a work of Art, cruel and heartbreaking, that's why I give it 10 out of 10.

score 10/10

onembaby 17 September 2006

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1476717/