Pola X

AAA+++

This is a very thoughtful production with an excellent French cast. I sought it out because I had just finished reading Melville's Pierre or the Ambiguities, and I was not disappointed by the movie. The novel is very problematic, and many of its features are more or less faithfully presented in the movie, although updated.

Carax's Melville is one of the great films of the last decade and certainly on a par with Claire Denis's Beau Travail, her version of Melville's Billy Budd. Pierre is Melville's most enigmatic work and Carax illuminates the mystery by placing it in our world, the dawn of the twenty-first century, where the spectator must enter--the viewer become a reader again--unriddling this Hamlet from the inside out.

I am not too enthusiastic about writing reviews (for good movies there are already better ones than I might do and others are not worth to mention), but this one was unusually dissapointing. I have seen other Carax movies, and, although not being a great admirer, I found him at least interesting - thus, I bought this dvd, largely on the basis of other, some quite intriguing (if not always positive) reviews. However, so far this turned out to be the only dvd I would prefer not to have. Since my mistake was misinterpretation of other reviews, I will start with some statements what this movie is not. It is not (an any kind of) love story. It is also not a study of deep (or any) philosophical questions. The best description probably will be that it is a kind of horror movie. The mysterious Isabelle (Golubeva) really resembles a kind of vampire (in traditions how these are usually shown in movies) and meeting her is probably quite close to the meeting of death with the obvious consequences. Apart from that, the movie quite professioinally shows the kind of nightmares you may encounter on such an occasion and that's it. The nightmares are well done and as such may keep you interested, but they don't solve anything or give you anything - the feeling you are left with is just that of horror. It is true that there is some good photography, camera work, (maybe) some acting, but probably not more (just differently) than in a typical hollywood movie. Conclusions: You might like it, if you are looking for horror movie, or if you basically like hollywood-style movies (the style is different, but similarly valuable and works on the level of similar instincts). If you expect that movie must be a work of art, then most likely you will be dissapointed - this one is not.

Personal collection

I had a copy of "Pierre," the Herman Melville book the movie is based on, and could never quite finish it. I gave it to my boyfriend, who did read it, and then told me about this movie. I found it VERY helpful to watch this movie with someone who had read Pierre, since it fills in some gaps for the characters' motives which isn't at all obvious in the film. Basic, basic plot: Young man is in love, also kind of sketchy dynamic with his mom. Meets woman who claims to be his half-sister. He decides to abandon his secure life to run off with her, and the results are not good. Guillaume Depardieu, as well as the two female supporting characters in the form of his girlfriend and the half-sister, do their best in a movie that is just a little too difficult to follow without a knowledge of what Melville had in mind. Catherine Deneuve isn't in the movie enough - she is powerful, beautiful, and absolutely packs in the psychological compulsion that make her scenes the most fun in a mostly humorless movie. Guillaume Depardieu died a week ago. I am sure that his father, Gerard, was proud of him, but I would have been particularly so given his ability to take on such a potentially ridiculous screenplay and bring it closer to the psychological turmoil that comes across more obviously in the original book. recommended for: arthouse freaks who would like everyone to know that they also read Melville. p.s. I didn't find it THAT sexually explicit, particularly for a French film, but there's one scene a lot of reviewers refer to, and yes, it's pretty crazy, but not in an x-rated way. More in a "whoa?! what?" way.

Leos Carax's "Pola X" is at best problematic and at worst an incoherent mess. It is rumored that Herman Melville went insane while writing "Pierre: or the Ambiguities" on which this film is based. This explains a lot in regards to what we are forced to endure while watching this film. Pierre (Guillaume Depardieu, Gerard's son)is a good-looking, blond, rich author living with his sister, Marie (Catherine Denueve who manages somehow to keep her dignity) and engaged to blond, good looking, Lucie (Delphine Chuillot). While having a beer with his cousin (Laurent Lucas who is always dewy-eyed for some reason)one sunny afternoon, he sees a dark haired woman, Isabelle (Katerina Golubeva) spying on him and proceeds to follow her as he realizes this is the woman of whom he's been dreaming. Up until this point the film has been about light: bright sunlight, white clothing, blond hair,etc. But the minute Isabelle comes on the scene everything goes dark, dank and miserable. Pretty obvious symbolism. Isabelle claims to be Pierre's long lost sister and Pierre decides to turn his life upside down and take care of Isabelle which leads him into a fast spiral downward. Golubeva's recitation regarding her previous life and her delivery of it in an irritating voice that sounds like a young, drunk Marlene Dietrich is one of THE most irritating scenes in movies that I have ever been unfortunate to witness. The only small saving grace of this movie, besides Deneuve, was the sex scene between Pierre and Isabelle (Yikes!). It was mildly erotic.

Good movie...especially for fans of Catherine Deneuve

Leos Carax es un director especial y sus peliculas inclasificables. Esta la rodo despues de los Amantes del Pont Neuf, presentada en Cannes gue un desastre en taquilla lo que motico que hasta Holly Motors no volviera a rodar. Intensa y maligna es todo un retos visual. Palicula llena de un lirismo salvaje y donde todo parede no tener limite. Desgraciadamente carece de subtitulos en español, si en ingles, pero merece la pena para los amantes de ese otro cine que existe.

Everything was fine.Great seller.

Il est difficile de transposer les événements du passé dans le temps présent. Il est difficile de traduire les sentiments du passé dans les présentes. Il est difficile d'actualiser un texte de la dix-neuvième siècle. Il est difficile de transposer un roman dans le film. Carax a réussi à faire tout ça, bien assez.

Fantastic film would recommend this to anyone to buy

Okay.All is the best