"French Foreign Legion of the mind" is close, but I think a better epitome would be a meditation on wasted potential. If there is a theme that runs through Claire Denis' movies, it is civilization and its discontents, and this is her best work on the subject yet. The imagery alludes to Antonioni's "The Passenger" and rightly so: both films treat the annihilation of identity, although Denis' vision is ultimately darker. The last scene is the most haunting since the ending to Tarkovsky's "Andrei Rublev."
Sure, the voice-over is awkward, but Calvin Klein is absolutely the wrong referent here. Far apter would be Leni Riefenstahl.
Sure, the voice-over is awkward, but Calvin Klein is absolutely the wrong referent here. Far apter would be Leni Riefenstahl.