CATHERINE BREILLAT

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BB.5. 

Original title:  A Ma Soeur!

France/Italy, 2001.  Arte France Cinema, CB Films, Canal+, Centre National De La Cinematographie, Flach Film, Immagine e Cinema, Urania Pictures S.r.l..  Screenplay by Catherine Breillat.  Cinematography by Giorgos Arvanitis.  Produced by Jean-François Lepetit.  Production Design by François-Renaud Labarthe.  Costume Design by Ann Dunsford, Catherine Meillan.  Film Editing by Pascale Chavance.  Berlin Film Festival 2001.  Toronto International Film Festival 2001.  

Catherine Breillat continues her assault on the limits of cinematic sexuality with this pretentious drama. At its core is a beautifully observed, witty and intelligent dissection of the relationship between two young sisters, one a teen beauty and the other a spunky but insecure chubby adolescent. When the elder sister makes the acquaintance of a sexy Italian lover during a family vacation, the younger sister watches as her sibling gives away her innocence to the attraction of empty promises made in the heat of passion. It would have been a lot better except that the dialogue is stiff and the conclusion is beyond ridiculous. The terrific performances (especially Arsinée Khanjian as the girls’ mother) are wasted on Breillat’s painfully unsubtle style of storytelling.

The Criterion Collection:  #259