Description
Title: Marie, the Doll (1976)
Alternate Title: Marie-poupée
Genre: Drama
Plot Synopsis: Marie, a 17-year-old orphan with a childlike demeanor, becomes captivated by a doll shop owned by the affluent and eccentric Claude. Drawn to her doll-like innocence, Claude invites Marie to view his extensive personal collection, leading to a swift marriage. Unbeknownst to Marie, Claude’s obsession with dolls extends to treating her as one, confining her to a life of objectification and emotional isolation. As Marie’s longing for genuine human connection grows, she seeks solace elsewhere, culminating in tragic consequences. The film explores themes of fetishism, sexual repression, and the perils of self-objectification.
Cast and Crew:
Director: Joël Séria
Writer: Joël Séria
Cast:
- Jeanne Goupil as Marie-Poupée
- André Dussollier as Claude
- Andréa Ferréol as Ida Courtin
- Bernard Fresson as Sergio
- Fanny Ardant as Marie-Paule
IMDb Link: Marie, the Doll (1976)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
- Scumbalina – ★★★★★ “A much more complex horror story than ‘Don’t Deliver Us From Evil’ which makes its intentions clear from the get-go. Sexual maturity, and all of the messiness that comes with it are at the core.”
- kennedi cotarelo – ★★★★★ “A tale of a fetishized existence as an idealized feminine object of perceived innocence, otherized and rendered a non-person: a doll.”
- Groverdox – ★★★☆☆ “Being left with a creepy relationship like the one at the centre of this movie—a guy who loves dolls falls for a girl who behaves like one—becomes pretty unpleasant when the movie does nothing with it.”
Meta Description: “Marie, the Doll” (1976), directed by Joël Séria, is a French drama that delves into the life of Marie, a young orphan who becomes ensnared in a marriage with Claude, a man fixated on dolls. The film examines themes of fetishism, s&xual repression, and the dangers of self-objectification.
Title: Depraved Relations (1975)
Alternate Title: Les liaisons perverses
Genre: Drama
Plot Synopsis:
A shallow and selfish young Parisian photographer seduces Hélène, the young wife of a businessman. The photographer’s immorality ensnares Hélène in a betrayal of her middle-class values. However, despite the photographer’s attempts to exploit her situation, Hélène’s genuine substance and intelligence provide an unexpected resolution.
Cast and Crew:
Director: Jean-Paul Savignac
Cast:
- Mona Heftre as Hélène
- Jean Roche
- Pierre Oudrey
- Samuel Sladow
- Monique Vita
Reviews from Letterboxd:
-
MrDilophosaurus – ★★★☆☆
“In cinematographic terms, ‘Les liaisons perverses’ is a pretty standard erotic drama for the time. Director Jean-Paul Savignac is competent enough, staging some of the sex scenes in unconventional ways.” -
OncleVernon – ★★☆☆☆
“Une rareté française exhumée par Le Chat qui fume… Le film en lui-même est malheureusement plutôt quelconque.” -
ToxicAvenger666 – ★★★½☆
“Enfaite j’aime l’érotisme à la française de l’époque… je le trouve très poétique et drôle à la fois.”
Meta Description:
“Depraved Relations” (1975), directed by Jean-Paul Savignac, is a French drama that explores the manipulative relationship between a selfish Parisian photographer and Hélène, a young wife entangled in a betrayal of her middle-class values.
