Synopsis
Jewish intellectual Charles Swann has overcome prejudice and now occupies a prominent
position in society, enjoying the friendship of such notables as the Baron de Charlus.
All this he is prepared to risk in his pursuit of an uncontrollable lust for a younger
woman with a dubious past, Odette de Crecy. Swann’s relentless jealousy and
desire to possess Odette progressively erodes his passion. He realises, too late,
that the love he ultimately secures is scarcely worth having...
© filmsdefrance.com 2012
© filmsdefrance.com 2012
Review / Analysis
It is widely accepted that Marcel Proust’s À
la recherche du temps perdu is the one literary work that tacitly defies translation
to the big screen. It is not just the length of the monumental work that should
put off any sane film director; the complexity of Proust’s narrative style and the
interweaving of some many diverse themes are guaranteed to make any film adaptation a
doomed venture. This doesn’t mean that some filmmakers haven’t tried
however…
In Un amour de Swann, German director Volker Schlöndorff took up the challenge and adapted a small, yet substantial, segment of Proust’s work. Whilst the result is far from perfect, the film’s production values are excellent, and Schlöndorff goes someway to capturing the ethereal mood and rich complexity of Proust’s writing. There is some evocative cinematography from Sven Nykvist (a collaborator of such masters as Ingmar Bergman), which skilfully conveys the oppressive nature of the period in which the film is set and also the dangerous all-consuming frenzy that is romantic passion.
On the downside, Jeremy Irons’ portrayal of Swann is too cold and distant for him to be engaging or convincing, and Ornella Muti appears to be an obvious casting error. The only sympathetic character is the Baron de Charlus, a disillusioned gay aristocrat portrayed with surprising sensitivity by Alain Delon. Overall, the film’s lack of passion and intensity makes it a ponderous and lacklustre work, although it does offer a few moments of artistic brilliance – notably the film’s haunting and rather poignant ending.
© James Travers 2005
Write a review for this film...
In Un amour de Swann, German director Volker Schlöndorff took up the challenge and adapted a small, yet substantial, segment of Proust’s work. Whilst the result is far from perfect, the film’s production values are excellent, and Schlöndorff goes someway to capturing the ethereal mood and rich complexity of Proust’s writing. There is some evocative cinematography from Sven Nykvist (a collaborator of such masters as Ingmar Bergman), which skilfully conveys the oppressive nature of the period in which the film is set and also the dangerous all-consuming frenzy that is romantic passion.
On the downside, Jeremy Irons’ portrayal of Swann is too cold and distant for him to be engaging or convincing, and Ornella Muti appears to be an obvious casting error. The only sympathetic character is the Baron de Charlus, a disillusioned gay aristocrat portrayed with surprising sensitivity by Alain Delon. Overall, the film’s lack of passion and intensity makes it a ponderous and lacklustre work, although it does offer a few moments of artistic brilliance – notably the film’s haunting and rather poignant ending.
© James Travers 2005
Write a review for this film...
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Credits
- Director: Volker Schlöndorff
- Script: Peter Brook, Jean-Claude Carrière, Marie-Hélène Estienne, Volker Schlöndorff, Marcel Proust (novel)
- Photo: Sven Nykvist
- Music: David Graham, Hans Werner Henze, Gerd Kuhr, Marcel Wengler
- Cast: Jeremy Irons (Charles Swann), Ornella Muti (Odette de Crecy), Alain Delon (Baron de Charlus), Fanny Ardant (Duchesse de Guermantes), Marie-Christine Barrault (Madame Verdurin), Anne Bennent (Chloe), Nathalie Juvet (Madame Cottard), Charlotte Kerr (Sous-maitresse), Catherine Lachens (Aunt), Philippine Pascal (Madame Gallardon), Charlotte de Turckheim (Madame de Cambremer), Nicolas Baby (Young Jew), Jean-François Balmer (Dr. Cottard), Jacques Boudet (Duke de Guermantes), Jean-Pierre Coffe (Aime), Jean-Louis Richard (Monsieur Verdurin), Bruno Thost (Saniette), Geoffroy Tory (Forcheville), Roland Topor (Biche), Vincent Martin (Remi), Marc Arian (Swann’s Valet), Pierre Celeyron (Valet Pif), Romain Brémond (Protocole Guermantes), Véronique Dietschy (Mme Vinteuil), Ivry Gitlis (Violoniste)
- Country: France / West Germany
- Language: French / English / German
- Support: Color
- Runtime: 110 min
- Aka: Swann in Love
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Drama / Romance 










