Not just another pretty face
Friday, February 8, 2013
Two days ago, CineVerse screened "Pretty Baby" and engaged in an in-depth group talk about the merits and controversies of the 1978 film. Here are the major discussion points:
WHAT ARE THIS FILM’S
GREATEST STRENGTHS?
· It approaches its controversial subject honestly and
without pulling any punches; it doesn’t attempt to titillate or exploit for
crass, erotic purposes as, say, a cheap grindhouse flick on the subject of
prostitution would
· The picture is well-cast, with good performances from
top-shelf actors, including Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, and Keith Carradine
· It’s beautifully photographed by the great
cinematographer Sven Nykvist
· The period music and score for the movie is
emotionally resonant, bittersweet and appropriate
WHAT ARE THIS MOVIE’S
GREATEST FLAWS?
· The fact that it casts a 12-year-old in a role that
involves nudity and prurient subject matter; it’s a film that has the potential
to make you feel sleazy just for watching it
· Arguably, it can be difficult to accept the
romance/love story between Bellocq and Violet; we get that he wants to save
her, but what are his motivations beyond that?
COULD THIS MOVIE BE MADE
(OR REMADE FOR THAT MATTER) TODAY?
· Probably not, as it would be deemed child pornography
and possibly not bankable as a box office investment, with the capacity to
incite too much controversy and backlash
· This movie was a product of its times: the cinematically
much freer and more independent 1970s, when filmmakers could broach
controversial subjects and take chances
· If it were remade, it would have to cast an older
actress to play Violet and probably refrain from having that actress appear
nude
WAS HAVING BROOKE SHIELDS
APPEAR NUDE AN UNECESSARY MISTAKE, OR WAS IT APPROPRIATE TO DEPICT THE
HARSH, UNSETTLING REALISM OF THE TIME, SETTING AND SITUATION?
· The filmmakers could have simply suggested nudity
without actually showing private parts by using careful camera angles
· However, that wouldn’t have been as disturbing or
effective as showing the real 12-year-old actress and what her character was
forced to engage in, which was the whole point
· One side effect of showing a naked 12-year-old actress
is that it can detract from appreciating the overall story and message/theme;
if you focus too much on the shocking images and circumstances of the film’s
casting/shooting, you may miss the whole point.
DID THE DIRECTOR
DEMONSTRATE GOOD TASTE OR BAD TASTE IN HIS DEPICTION OF THE NUDITY, SEX, AND
CONTROVERSIAL SITUATIONS WITHIN THE BROTHEL?
· You could argue that he practiced restraint and
cautious, careful respect in his choices; his intent was likely not to sexually
arouse or satisfy any base desires, but to simply show the truth of what
occurred in these brothels at that time and place
· After all, the film has to be at least somewhat
controversial, as befitting its disturbing subject matter, otherwise the
message is diluted and softened
· Then again, ask yourself: could or should a filmmaker
get away with showing a nude 12-year-old actress today? Almost certainly no.
OTHER FILMS
BY LOUIS MALLE
· Murmur of the Heart
· Lacombe, Lucien
· Atlantic City
· Au Revoir Les Enfants
· My Dinner with Andre