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Romance
1999 99 min France R 18+
★5.3
Drama, Romance
Director: Catherine Breillat
Trailers
Description
Frustrated by the lack of intimacy in her relationship, a young schoolteacher goes through a series of intimidating and often violent sexual partners.
Budget:
$2.7M
US Gross:
$1.59M
Worldwide:
$3.89M
Starring
Caroline Ducey
Actor
Sagamore Stévenin
Actor
François Berléand
Actor
Awards
1 nomination total
Key opinion
Romance (1999) is a polarizing and provocative exploration of female desire that splits audiences between those who view it as a profound, intellectual dissection of gender dynamics and those who dismiss it as pretentious, pornographic, and emotionally hollow. While the film is recognized as a seminal work of French auteur cinema, its graphic nature and nihilistic tone frequently leave viewers feeling repulsed rather than engaged.
| Originality | The film succeeds as a daring, unapologetic, and intellectually provocative manifesto on female sexuality and gender power struggles. | |
| Cinematography | The inclusion of explicit, pornographic imagery creates a visceral, often repelling reaction that leaves many viewers feeling empty or physically uncomfortable. | |
| Acting | Caroline Ducey’s central performance provides a complex, contradictory, and deeply committed portrait of a woman navigating desire and nihilism. | |
| Screenplay | The philosophical voice-overs and dialogue are experienced by some as insightful, while others find them to be pretentious, incoherent, or psychotically disconnected from reality. | |
| Theme | The narrative structure and character motivations divide audiences; some find the heroine's journey to be a powerful exploration of loneliness, while others see her as an unlikable character trapped in contrived, unrealistic scenarios. |