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A
three part erotic anthology: Story one deals with a sailor stranded
on a desert island inhabited by four gorgeous but mysterious
native girls; story two deals with a young Japanese boy haunted
by a nursery rhyme his mother used to tell him; and the third
tale deals with a Parisian gentleman who gets more than he bargained
for when he buys a night with a prostitute...
In
light of more relaxed censorship and the unexpected mainstreaming
of pornography in the wake of the success of pictures like Deep
Throat, many directors tried their hands at the erotic
genre, with varying degrees of success. The brainchild of French
producer Pierre Braunberger, Private Collections
brings together three maverick filmmakers and allows them an
opportunity to deal with erotic themes, albeit with very different
results. Shot quickly and without the benefit of any major international
'names', the film didn't have tremendous commercial success
on its original release but stands out as one of the more interesting
experiments of its kind.
The first segment,
by French director Just Jaeckin (Emmanuelle),
is absolutely marvelous. The clichéd setup of a randy
sailor who finds himself surrounded by a bevy of beautiful
and above all, willing
native girls is turned on its head as the episode shifts tone
from light and fluffy to dark and horrific. The final reveal
is something of a letdown, perhaps, but it works well enough
in the short form context. The impact is aided immeasurably
by the welcome presence of gorgeous Laura Gemser, whose visage
(already popular in the Black Emanuelle series, though
she occasionally showed up in Italian thrillers and exploitation
films, as well) was used to promote the film. The role requires
the actress to walk about stark naked, and for that the audience
can be truly grateful. Gemser isn't really required to do much
acting, but her sensual presence gives the film an appropriately
erotic charge. The story itself may lack depth, but in terms
of its staging and effect, Jaeckin starts the film off on the
right foot.
The promise of the
first segment isn't entirely fulfilled by the second by Japanese
director Shuji Terayama (Fruits of Passion).
Though sumptuously photographed and loaded with haunting imagery,
the attempt at a fable suffers from overly languid pacing and
poorly defined characters. The emphasis is less on erotica than
it is on the protagonist's complicated relationship with his
mother, but the emotional impact is muted. Part of the problem
stems from the decision to overlay narration over the proceedings
though the characters are speaking to each other, we are only
told part of the dialogue via the narration. This technique
creates a distance between the viewer and the drama, even if
one is left admiring the artistry of its execution. Though by
no means a complete waste of time, Terayama's segment makes
for an unsatisfactory bridge between the opening and closing
stories.
More effective is
the final tale, directed by Walerian Borowcyzk (Immoral
Women, La Bκte)
from a story by Guy De Maupassant. Its tale of a snobby member
of the upper class looking for cheap distraction in the form
of a "lowly" prostitute is rife with social commentary, but
it also proves to be emotionally involving due to the thoughtful
shading given to its protagonists. Given Borowczyk's reputation,
the segment is surprisingly tame
there's very little nudity, and the only sex scene is presented
as awkward and clumsy, which is appropriate given the setup.
Indeed, Jaeckin and Borowczyk's segments complement each other
beautifully in that they both present an unpleasant variation
on typical male fantasies, in this case a typical 'night on
the town' that doesn't go quite as expected. The theme of characters
who remain disconnected on an emotional level is conveyed effectively,
and the performances are convincing without resorting to arch
theatricality.
Ultimately, like most
anthologies, Private Collections
is uneven on the whole
but its highlights make it worth a look. Viewers seeking crass
sexploitation would be well advised to look elsewhere
the film functions as erotica without succumbing to cheap titillation,
while its tone of loneliness and alienation may prove off-putting
for those who are simply looking for a 'good time'.
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| Severin's
release of Private Collections is
up to the fine standards they have established so early in their
history. Presented in 1.66, which appears to be the correct aspect
ratio, the film is also enhanced for widescreen TVs. Colors are
vivid where required; each segment has a different aesthetic
and detail is very sharp. Print damage is limited to some minor
speckling, and the film is completely uncut. English and French/English
tracks are provided the difference being that the narration
of the Japanese segment is in English on the latter, with the
dialogue for the other segments remaining in French. Both tracks
are clean and clear and show no evident signs of distortion. The
removable English subtitles are clear and easy to read. Extras
include a theatrical trailer, bios for the three directors and,
best of all, a 9-minute interview with director Just Jaeckin.
Jaeckin comes across as an intelligent and thoughtful interview
subject, and he recalls the filming as one long holiday.
4/06/07 |
