Film Review
Adapted from a best-selling novel of the same title by Albertine
Sarrazin,
L'Astragale is one
of Guy Casaril's more tastefully sensual films, one that helped revive
the flagging career of Horst Buchholz and raise the profile of
Marlène Jobert, soon to become one of the most sought-after
actresses in France. Whilst deriving the maximum capital from his
sexy lead actors, Casaril crafts a haunting visual poem in yearning for
individual freedom that is superior to anything he would subsequently
make, including his Edith Piaf biopic
Piaf
(1974) and erotic movie
Émilienne
(1975).
L'Astragale is
in essence the classic survival film, a compelling portrait of one
unfortunate woman's attempt to survive all that life throws at her,
including a grim spell in prison and the traumas of life in the
gangster milieu, where she is routinely abused by the male
sex. The captivating lead performances make up for a
threadbare script and Casaril's uneven direction, and Jobert has never
looked more desirable, nor more enigmatic, than she does here.
© James Travers, Willems Henri 2015
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Film Synopsis
Anne is a juvenile prisoner whose only friend is Rolande. The
idea of escape takes hold of her and one day, having been admitted to
the infirmary, she escapes by climbing over the high prison wall.
In the attempt, she breaks a bone in her ankle and only just manages to
drag herself to the roadside, hoping to hitch a lift to safety.
Finally, a car pulls up and its driver, an ex-convict named Julien,
offers her a lift. In no time, Anne and Julien realise that they
are in love. Julien takes his new friend to his mother's house,
to recover from her injury. Later, Anne falls in with a gang of
hoods at a disused open-air dance hall. Having finally reached
Paris, she has to share an apartment with a prostitute and her young
daughter. One day, Julien is arrested for petty larceny and, as
she awaits his return, Anne realises that this is not the freedom she
had imagined for herself...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.