Director Review: JEAN-JACQUES BEINEIX

 Of all of French director Jean-Jacques Beineix's numerous filmmaking skills I'd have to say his absolute forte is weaving an addictive, absorbing story. Each of the three films I've seen directed by him have had unique characters acting out lives or responding to conflicts that the average person will never experience. Even so, everything I've seen by him touches on key emotions that are common to most people. How he pulls it off I couldn't tell you, but it makes for some enthralling viewing.

Jean-Jacques Beineix's premeire feature length film, DIVA (1981) is the only film solely surrounding opera that I've ever enjoyed. On top of that it's something of a crime thriller! But, taking two elements that don't usually interest me, Beineix crafts a tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. Jules is an opera-loving mail-carrier who records the concert of a diva opera singer who refuses to be recorded in a studio. After Jules meets singer Cynthia they develop a trusting friendship which is jeopardized when a pair of Taiwanese criminals get ahold of the recording and wish to profit from it. The moral dilemma and the periodic action scenes are enough to keep this movie far more interesting than an actual opera.

BETTY BLUE (1986) is Beineix's most notable work. Raw and real and dangerous, this twisted disfunctional love story caught a lot of buzz at its release from the plentiful frontal nudity and long, realistic sex scenes. But deeper than the hype is the profile of a beautiful love affair. Zorg, a handyman and plumber allows Betty who he's been dating for one week to move in with him. The two quickly become obssessed with each other in spite of the constant trouble Betty gets them into with her violent and unpredictable outbursts. The two star-crossed lovers run away together to try to forge a life out of nothing but their love and trust for each other and their mutual stubbornness. Less cheesy and Hollywoody than the plot could have been, this film is thoroughly French, complete with a tragic ending and a moral about the dangers of (and complete necessity for) unchecked passion.

Similarly, Beineix's ROSELYNE OF THE LIONS (1989) is also about two lovers who take to the road due to unfavorable circumstances in search of their dreams. ROSELYNE is a different animal though, in that the two leads play lion tamers trying to find work in circuses. This is what I refer to when I say Beineix spins a unique tale. This film is filled with such excellent suspense, from the risky lion show stunts to the several inter-relationship squabbles as the couple struggle, fist to find work, then to cope with the work they are hired to which ends up stretching their skills as trainers. Unfortunately that tension is only released when lions don't eat the couple. I found myself disappointed by the lack of resolution at the end. While some of the couple's difficulties were faced and solved, the movie seemed to just sort of end without making note of the other unfinished conflicts. Still, definitely a movie worth seeing.

Next Director: INGMAR BERGMAN (one of my top ten directors