Amazon.com Essentials:
Bernardo Bertolucci's controversial 1973 film stars Marlon
Brando as an expatriate American in Paris reeling from his wife's
suicide and entering into a nihilistic sexual relationship with a
young woman (Maria Schneider). The film is still shocking, not simply
because of its (sometime unconventional) sexual sequences, but because
Brando's protagonist needs his liaison with Schneider's character to
remain anonymous, an experience not to be shared but indulged on
either end. Bertolucci is also operating on subtext here: in a way,
Brando's nonengaging engagement is a metaphor for a certain attitude
toward directing movies. Jean-Pierre Léaud costars, but the
film is more than anything a vehicle for a great performance by
Brando. The DVD release has a widescreen presentation, and is in
English and French with optional subtitles for either
language. --Tom Keogh
Amazon.com Essentials:
Bernardo Bertolucci's controversial 1973 film stars Marlon
Brando as an expatriate American in Paris reeling from his wife's
suicide and entering into a nihilistic sexual relationship with a
young woman (Maria Schneider). The film is still shocking, not simply
because of its (sometime unconventional) sexual sequences, but because
Brando's protagonist needs his liaison with Schneider's character to
remain anonymous, an experience not to be shared but indulged on
either end. Bertolucci is also operating on subtext here: in a way,
Brando's nonengaging engagement is a metaphor for a certain attitude
toward directing movies. Jean-Pierre Léaud costars, but the
film is more than anything a vehicle for a great performance by
Brando. The DVD release has a widescreen presentation, and is in
English and French with optional subtitles for either
language. --Tom Keogh
