La Lectrice (1988) - film review

Constance is asked by her boyfriend to read out loud a novel in which a young woman called Marie decides to become a professional reader.  Having placed an advertisement in the paper, Marie is offered work by a curious mix of clients, including a wheel-bound young man, an elderly widow who thrives on Tolstoy and Marx, and a love hungry executive interested only in pornography.  As she reads, Constance becomes embroiled in the story and imagines herself in the part of Marie…

This is a film which is not just about the pleasure of reading but also about the power it has to alter our perception of the world, offering us new experiences which can be as profound as anything in real life.  It is a bizarre thing to say, but watching this film is strangely like reading a book.  The way in which the film draws its viewer into its subject is as subtle and effective as if it were a well written novel.

One peculiarity of the film is the way in which the viewer is led to identify him or herself with the reader, Constantine, who identifies herself with the reader Marie, who, in turn, identifies herself with her clients.  This Russian doll nesting of world within worlds provides an unsettlingly unfamiliar yet ultimately pleasurable cinematic experience.

Michel Deville’s quirky brand of comedy is helped along with a captivating performance from Miou-Miou, providing some moments of genuine hilarity.  There are some splendid contributions from Patrick Chesnais and veteran actress Maria Casarès, whose O.T.T. performances provide a perfect foil to Miou-Miou’s subtle yet far from innocent portrayal of Marie.

© James Travers 2000

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