Film Review
Lady Oscar is a little known work directed by one of France's most influential
film directors, Jacques Demy. It was commissioned by a Japenese production company
and is based on a hugely popular Japanese strip-cartoon. Among the requirements
placed on Demy was that the film be made in English, so he cast mainly English actors,
although the fairly tight budget prevented him from hiring any big names.
Although the film is noticeably handicapped by its sponsor's brief, Demy manages to create
a colourful, engaging film, brought to life by his customary fluid photography.
It is similar with his earlier triumphs such as
Les parapluies de Cherbourg and
Les demoiselles de Rochefort in that it transposes a real-life situation into a
fantasy world where everything appears pretty and harmless, although a glimmer of tragedy
can be glimpsed beneath this veneer.
Unfortunately, the absurdity of the plot, dialogue and characters makes this Demy-esque
artifice appear more nauseating than endearing. Most off-putting is the fact that
every character in the film, even the lowliest street urchin, speaks with a crisp English
accent that could cut butter from fifty yards. Generally, the quality of the acting
is mediocre, although Christina Bohm's fluffy bunny Marie-Anotinette is quite enjoyable.
Catriona Mac's portrayal Oscar is so wooden and devoid of character that you would hardly
notice she was in the film at all.
Overall, the film is a disappointment. It lacks the purity of Demy's fairy tale
cinematography and the rigour and depth of a serious period drama. There is an attempt
to draw some sense of irony out of the inevitability of the fall of the court of Versailles,
but, hampered by weak characterisation and some risible dialogue, it just fails to ring
true. The film's comic book origins are all too apparent.
© James Travers 2001
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Next Jacques Demy film:
Une chambre en ville (1982)
Film Synopsis
In 18th century France, Oscar-François de Jarjayes has had the most
extraordinary of upbringings. Unwilling to recognise her as a girl
after her birth, a proud nobleman insisted that she be reared as a boy.
She grew up as such in the company of her nurse's nephew, André Grandier,
who became her closest friend and confidant. Now twenty years of age,
thought by all to be a young man, Oscar occupies the honourable position
as personal guard to the Queen of France, Marie-Antoinette, whilst her childhood
companion André toils contentedly in the stables.
At Versailles, Oscar finds herself attracted to the handsome aristocrat Axel
de Fersen, although his attentions are apparently monopolised by the radiant
queen. To avoid a scandal, Fersen is obliged to flee to America, just
as Marie-Antoinette is about to fall victim to a fiendish plot involving
a necklace concocted by her scheming enemies. On Fersen's return to
Paris, Oscar attempts to engage his interest by dressing as a woman, but
as she does so she is confronted by André, who insists he is devotedly
in love with her.
A love-match with André is not something Oscar has ever contemplated,
nor is it possible since they belong to two very different worlds.
But, with the French Revolution just around the corner Oscar's world is about
to be wiped from the face of the earth. Disillusioned with the attitude
of her queen, disgusted by her father's cynicism, Oscar finally decides to
come out in support of the Revolution, to the delight of André, a
fierce Republican and the only man who has ever truly loved her...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.