Romance (Trimark) Review

Cast: Catherine Ducey, Rocco Siffredi, Sagamore Stevenin, Francois Berleand

Romance is a 1999 film from France that is unusual in that, while it is not a porno film, it contains fairly explicit sex scenes. It also contains Rocco Siffredi, in his first mainstream appearance. My review of the DVD (rented from Netflix.com) is based on how well it works as an art film, given that it is written and directed by the noted French director Catherine Breillat, famous for her controversial films that explore various aspects of sexuality, usually from a woman’s point of view. I admit I was curious to see what happens when a female director in her mid 50’s has the chance to showcase Mr. Siffredi and his talents, as captured by a cinematographer on real film, not video.

First off, let me say that if you don’t like foreign films, particularly French ones, you won’t like this one. Romance shares a lot in common with this genre of cinema, because there is not a lot of action, people sit around and have deep conversations about almost nothing, and the story moves ahead in fits and starts. At least in Romance there is a well-defined story, of a grade school teacher Marie (Catherine Ducey) who is unhappy with her sex life, and sets out on an unplanned journey to explore her options.

In regard to the explicit sex scenes, what is ground-breaking is the definite nudity of the male actors as well as Ms. Ducey, and the clearly shown scenes of actors touching each other’s private parts with fingers and mouths. Added to this is the fact that Rocco Siffredi is shown with an erection, the main reason Ms. Breillat cast him; she needed someone who could ‘provide the goods’, as it were.

The movie starts with Marie and her serious boyfriend Paul (Sagamore Stevinin), a male model; not much happens between the two but a never-ending conversation in which Marie expresses her sexual frustration, and Paul tells her to be patient, he’ll sooner or later become interested in sex again. She does try and interest him in fellatio (clearly shown), but he is none too enthusiastic.

Because she can’t sleep, Marie heads out to a bar, where she is spotted by Paolo, an Italian man (Rocco), the very antithesis of Paul. Paolo approaches her, and asks to join her at her table. They have a halting conversation, in which they both tell lies to each other – she says she is married, and he says that he doesn’t have a girlfriend anymore, she died in a car crash, he hasn’t made love in 4 months. What a line, and it’s even better to hear Rocco say such crap! I have to admit that Mr. Siffredi held his own during this scene, and looked even bashful, not at all the persona he typically portrays in porn films. It was also a delight to hear him speak in French, a language he knows well – rather than the few words of English that he repeats endlessly in his films: you have big ass; nasty; more, more, swallow more, etc.

In a car outside, Marie and Paolo make out – when he asks for a blowjob, Marie refuses (the surprised look on Rocco’s face is priceless), but she does agree to meet him the next evening at his place. Two scenes later, the pivotal sex scene begins, with Marie lying nude on his bed. A naked Paolo reaches for a condom, adding that he doesn’t really need to wear one, since it’s 6 months since he’s fucked anyone, and he doesn’t have AIDS (hey, I though it was 4 months!).

What follows is one of the most naturally flowing sexual encounters I’ve ever seen on film. After Paolo puts the condom on (Rocco definitely is hard), Marie begins a discourse on the similarity between used condoms and used tampons – only the French would have the nerve to put something like this in a movie. Marie reaches over and strokes his hard cock, and Paolo/Rocco truly enjoys the sensation. Paolo asks if she wants it up her ass – she says no, she wants it the regular way (another surprised look on Rocco’s face, no anal for him tonight). She turns over on her stomach, and he takes her from behind. Does he really penetrate her? Ducey has said in interviews not, Rocco has maintained yes, but from the evidence in the film, I say it is too difficult to tell. Still, even if it was simulated, the sex sure looks hot, and that’s what counts (I know my toes were curling under). They go at it for a few minutes, and Rocco comes (simulated?). The director purposely focuses on Rocco’s face during his climax, just like a woman who appreciates a man’s sexuality should rightfully do. A few moments of conversation follow between the two, where they try to connect with each other, but don’t have much luck.

This five minute scene took five hours to rehearse and film, and it shows. The camera work and lighting all combine to enhance the encounter between the two characters, rather than simply provide what is necessary to record the scene. Rocco in particular looks terrific, with the lighting making him appear leaner and more muscular than in his own films; the camera brings out how tiger-like his moves are, as it pans up and down his body. Even after he comes, and lies back down next to Marie, he just looks delectable – this is something that porn movies too often forget to show: the afterglow of sex.

I could write a dissertation on the above scene, but I will restrain myself and move on. For more info on it, check out this site from Salon.com.

The film progresses onto the next encounter, that between Marie and Robert, the principal of her school. He invites her to his home, where he calmly and methodically introduces her to S/M play. She agrees to be tied up and gagged; his care in binding her with rope is what you would expect from an architect planning a major design. After a few minutes, she can’t take it, and breaks down. He lovingly carries her to his bed and comforts her with soothing words and caresses, in exact contrast to his mood when he is binding her up.

She eventually comes to like the S/M play, and returns to his home for more sessions over the next 2 months. On a second occasion, she is bound up in a bizarre fashion with lots of rope, a gag, handcuffs and a spreader bar; it looks pretty kinky. Through these sessions, the principal and Marie begin to grow close to each other, even as Marie tries to hang on to her boyfriend.

Paul and Marie have one final stab at sex, and Marie becomes pregnant, almost by chance. The pregnancy gives the director opportunities to explore this area of Marie’s sexuality. One memorable scene involves Marie being subjected to a pelvic exam by a small army of medical students. I couldn’t help but think that this was like a clinical version of a bukkake scenario, what with Marie just laying there, and the men moving in a procession to probe her body with their fingers, instead of cumming on her body with semen.

The movie concludes with a surprise ending, as Marie finally finds the man of her dreams, someone she can relate to effortlessly.

Overall impression: The color palate of this film is mainly grey, white, red and black, and this fits the somber mood of the story. It’s not a happy-go-lucky love fest. Rather, it serves up the truth of how one woman relates to the men in her life, in a stark fashion. There are some very dark moments, and some very erotic moments throughout. It’s not a jack-off sort of movie, or a couples film. It is an honest cinematic work, sometimes brutally so.

For all you film fans who would like another helping of mainstream Siffredi, you are in luck. Ms. Breillat has cast him in a new film, Anatomie de l’enfer (Anatomy of Hell), due out in early 2004. In this one, Rocco plays the male lead, a man who dislikes women. Now, if Madame Breillat would care to turn her attention to Monsieur Manuel Ferrara in a film, I know at least one female viewer who would be more than interested.

Renee’s WristWatch-O-Meter: This film rates a 10 out of a possible 10! I base this on the Rocco/Marie scene, where Rocco performs without wearing a watch. In my book, nothing is more of a fantasy-killer than seeing a man wearing a timepiece during sex, and Rocco nearly always wears one in his own films. My kudos to Ms. Breillat the director.

Best line in film (Marie to Paolo/Rocco) I don’t care who stuffs my cunt, but I don’t like kisses on my mouth, they are too intimate.

Second best line (Marie to Paolo/Rocco) Length isn’t everything.

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