| 1970/France:125' novel: Dominique Fabre Directed by: Sergio Gobbi Writing credits: Andre Tabet, Georges Tabet Original music by: Georges Garvarentz Cinematography by: Daniel Diot Film Editing: Gabriel Rongier Cast: Helmut Berger ( Alain ) Charles Aznavour ( Leroy ) Francoise Brion ( Jacqueline ) Virna Lisi ( Nathalie ) Alain Noury ( Dino ) Edith Scob ( Sylvie ) It's a very stylish film - the photography was elegant and conveyed the mood of the story. The decoration of Alain's apartment was baroque, it was both seductive and foreboding and in this way reflected the duality of his character. I also liked how some of the scenes were played in near silence - such as the opening where the wife is driven to suicide. The film in some ways reminded me of certain aspects of 'last tango in paris' as it dealt with a destructive and disturbing relationship. The reason for Alain's behaviour ( his being born to a prostitute ) was interesting - but it was his vulnerability which gave Alain depth and engaged my sympathy despite his awful treatment of Nathalie. There were several scenes near the end of the film in which Helmut Berger expressed this side of Alain's personality with sensitivity and feeling. For example when he thinks Nathalie has gone missing and he has the telephone conversation with her and is driving around Paris to try and find her. There is a very powerful scene at the film's climax. When Alain, by now desperate arrives back at his apartment and discovers Nathalie waiting for him. They embrace each other with real feeling and tenderness. Up to this point Alain has continually manipulated Nathalie and behind almost every action of his we have sensed a calculating mind at work. His desire, not to love Nathalie but to control her - his displays of affection a strategy not real. However when they do embrace it seems that he does genuinely love her - and then we see the expression in his eyes and we know that he is unable to overcome his psychosis, he'll be compelled to destroy what he loves. I think it is this understanding which he cannot live with. He doesn't want to carry on so he kills himself as well. Then again maybe i'm wrong. We don't actually see Alain and Nathalie fall to their deaths so exactly how it happened is open to interpretation. Helmut Berger is of course beautiful in this role but it's his presence and talent as an actor which stand out. I also liked that 'un beau monstre' was filmed in Paris (I was born there) and Venice a beautiful city. Feb 2003 Dorian Leveque
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