Criticism of ‘Fantasías de unwriter’ (2021): Carnal desire

by time news

Anton Merikaetxebarria

This adaptation of Philip Roth’s novel ‘Deception’, originally titled ‘Tromperie’ (‘Deception’) has not had the expected commercial success in France. It stages a succession of dialogues by Philip, an American novelist who has settled in London. There he is related to several women: his lover, his wife and other female characters, some real and others fictional. A dense intellectual tone is imposed on the sensuality of the film, by Léa Seydoux, capable of redeeming, even partially, the protagonist’s flesh, immolating it in the sacred potion of poetry, to end up washing it in waters of scented herbs .

Philip Roth was a prestigious American writer, contradictory in his description of the female universe, with a realistic style, embodied in ‘The Professor of Desire’. On this occasion, both he and director Arnaud Desplechin have plenty of philosophical disquisitions and lack the extreme sensuality typical of the singular proposal. But, regardless of the taste of the viewer, refined or not, new artistic limits are being established. It seems that the work of art must defend certain values ​​and a fear of lynching is being installed in the authors. All this, in ‘Fantasías de unwriter’ results in an aseptic film, designed so that it does not bother.

fantasies of a writer

  • France. 2021. 105 m. (16). Drama.

  • Director:
    Arnaud Desplechin.

  • Interpreters:
    Denis Podalydès, Léa Seydoux, Emmanuelle Devos.

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