PERFUME smells of compromise
December 12th 2006 05:20
This is what I would call an exceptional horrorphile movie review. It’s not really a horror film, although it could have been a sensational new breed; a sensual horror movie. This post is primarily about my observations and reservations over the movie adaptation of one of the best novels of the past thirty years.
Patrick Suskind published Perfume in 1985. Within a year a movie executive offered to buy the film rights. Suskind steadfastly refused. He continued to refuse point blank for the next 15 years. In fact, his refusal to allow his book to be turned into a film became legendary.
The novel is written with an expert hand, a command of prose that despite being written originally in German (and set in France), translates beautifully into the English language. Scene after scene of stunning descriptive intensity, Perfume grips the reader like a powerful scent, pulling you into a world of exotic depravity and monstrous allure.
Many believed (and still do) that the novel was unfilmable (for example Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorsese). Like Marquez’s unfilmed 100 Years of Solitude, magic realism doesn’t look at the silver screen very enthusiastically. German director Tom Tykwer (Wintersleepers, Run, Lola, Run) was chosen as the man to take the helm of the film adaptation, after Suskind finally relinquished the rights for around ten million Euros (although intriguingly he requested absolutely no involvement in the production). The screenplay was penned by Andrew Birkin (The Messanger: The Story of Joan of Arc, The Name of the Rose), producer Bernd Eichinger (Downfall) and Tykwer.
The film looks sumptuous, evocative in both the tranquil beauty of the French countryside and the filthy squalor of the city of Paris. Tykwer and his cinematographer have ultilised the colour palette to stunning effect in an effort to metaphorically capture the cinematically elusive nature of smell.
I can’t say the same for some of the other casting though. And this is where my major reservations begin.
WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!
It becomes apparent quite quickly that this production has been made with America in mind. That is America and the rest of the English speaking world. It is a business decision, no less. But it spreads further than the casting and the language. This is a film that could have been easily, and quite magnificently, as long as two-and-a-half hours, possibly longer. There is a powerful middle section to the novel that demands an attention to time and space. In the movie it has been drastically compressed.
Dustin Hoffman plays his mentor, the perfumer Baldini. I actually think Hoffman a great actor, but here he is playing a buffoon and trying to hide his American accent. As for Alan Rickman as young Laura’s father, he is woefully miscast.
Which brings me to the film’s (and novel’s) final – gut-wrenching – sequence. This is pure horror, and Tykwer turns it into discreet fairy tale. It is a major disappointment. The whole story hinges on this scene of genuine, unbridled horror. It is a feverish descent into man as animal. And yet Perfume the movie simply wafts away like a light scent on a strong wind.
I haven’t bothered to include the trailer on this post. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy watching the movie, there are many genuinely great images and the musical score is awesome, but I came away feeling strangely unmoved. It was all very familiar, yet nothing had surprised me in that way you hope a movie adaptation might. All I could think about was how brilliant the novel was, and, ultimately, how ordinary the movie had been. Expectation is a dangerous odour.
* the movie poster image on this page was taken from the following wikipedia page:
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
It is licensed under the GNU Free Document License. Other images on this page are courtesy of NIX Co.
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Comment by Homer Joyce
Perfume is my favourite novel.
I so wanted to see the novel translated to the screen. I’m a believer it could have been done in a way that did justice to this sublime piece of literature.
Just one glimpse of the image you posted of the character who plays Grenouille, and my reaction was: ‘For fuck’s sake! Do these film-maker fuckwits know how to read?!’
That’s a rhetorical question. I’ve worked with many of them. Subtext to them is a new sandwich at Subway (the place you eat when you can't afford to fly).
I am not surprised. Just disappointed.
The only person capable of directing Perfume was David Lynch. Kieslowski is dead. Could you imagine Lynch directing The Elephant Man and casting Brad Pitt in the leading role with no makeup? I can’t. Why wasn’t Lynch asked?
Homer …
Comment by LaurenD
Thanks for the warning. I'll just go see Jackass 2. No, not really.
LaurenD
Comment by Sisi
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
I think the movie will be an incredible experience for most who haven't read the book, more so.
Comment by Ashish
IT Business Analysis
Great Narration.I really liked it.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I can only read half your post as I'm reading the book at the moment. It's disappointing that it seems as though the film version won't be as good as the book certainly is, what a shame.
Tracy
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I feel strangely honoured to have tackled your favourite novel amidst my horror blog (as I know you aren't too fond of horror movies). Immediate reaction is a weird breed of thought. Tis one of my own faves as well. David Lynch, huh? I can see that. Although I feel you could potentially have made the film too cold and distant. Kieslowski would have beeen able to capture that elusive magic realism, I'm sure.
My choice would've been David Cronenberg (the visceral and grotesque writhing with beauty and subtlety is his speciality), or perhaps Volker Schlondorff (The Tin Drum), is he still alive?
I guess the producers reasoned the film had to do big box office to justify it's massive expenditure (it's the most expensive German film to date), so it needed to be palatable and digestable to Joe America. Bah, humbug!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Yes, I'm sure many will see this film, who haven't read the book and by astonished, or at the very least, be captivated. And there will also be those who have read the book who will be more than adequately impressed with the adaptation. I'm just a real stickler for getting it right, Goddamit!
Ashish,
Am I too assume by "Great Narration" that you are referring to my own scribblings? I believe so and thankyou kind sir!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I'm glad you took heed of my warning. I didn't devulge in great detail, but you must allow the novel to ravish and ravage you wholly and completely with no inkling of where you are being lead ... Perfume, the novel, has one of the most sublime denouements in modern literature.
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Pleased to see that they didn't use Tom. Less pleased to hear that the elements I thought they'd shy away from are the ones they have.
And what's with making Jean-Baptiste Grenouille less ugly??
Though, the movie may inspire those who haven't read the book to pick it up and read it.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Tom Tykwer has done an impressive job, I don't deny that, and in the hands of many other directors the film could've been an unmitigated disaster, but still, the film could have become a modern classic if a) they'd filmed it in the French language b) they'd used relatively unknown actors (who could speak French) c) they'd filmed the entire novel (we're probably talking a two-and-a-half hour to three hour film) and d) they'd treated the novel's sexuality and horror scenes, no-holds-barred.
Guess that's too big an ask in the cinematic world of High Art.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
You bastard. You sick bastard. An advance screening? Damn!
I'll have to agree with Homer - Grenouille just doesn't look the part. That actor definitely smells.
Cronenberg would've been good, but how about Takashi Miike?
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Cryptic
Since seeing the advance screening with you Bryn, I feel like I need to see it again. I found myself comparing the novel to the movie and not allowing myself to be entirely submerged within this visual feast.
The lighting was rather atmospheric, dark and dimly lit, with the opening scene symbolic of the title itself. The cinematography is surreal, and the scenery and sets replicated the images from the novel.
However I felt we were betrayed with the use of the English language in the film. Why not use the native tongue?
Moreover, I agree with you Bryn - the girls whom were murdered in the novel were pubescent, and in the movie the women are adults.
Grenouille in the movie was hardly ugly enough, nor brutish and he lacked a broad big build.
So I would like to see Perfume again but I will never be convinced that the movie is better than the novel.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
nice comments, and fair call that the movie will never outshine, or should I say outscent, the novel ...
I too would like to see the movie again ... in a wee while.