by Allan Fish
(France 1971 92m) not on DVD
These walls hide strange things
p Dominique Duvergé d/w/ed/art Walerian Borowczyk novel “Mazepa” by Juliusz Slowacki ph Guy Durban, André Dubreuil m 13th century ballads cos Piet Bolscher
Ligia Branice (Blanche), Michel Simon (The Master), Lawrence Trimble (Nicolas), Jacques Perrin (Bartolomeo), Georges Wilson (The King), Denise Peronne (Madame Harcourt), Jean Gras, Michel Delehaye, Roberto, Genevieve Graves, Stanley Barry, Guy Bonnafoux,
If someone were to ask me what the most Buñuelian film in my list of greats not to be directed by the Spanish genius, I think that, after some deliberation, the film I would select would be Walerian Borowczyk’s Blanche. This is no idle comparison, for there are various similarities. True, Buñuel never made a film set in medieval Europe, but just think about it. Let’s detail the plot to give you a better inkling…
Blanche is the young bride of a powerful but ageing baron in 13th century France, who is also beloved by her stepson, the somewhat sombre Nicolas. One day the king comes to visit her husband’s castle (a small, four-towered keep of a place, “pleasantly situated but as gloomy as a Holy Land prison” is how the king describes it”), bringing with him an entourage including a host of monks and his companion, a young page. Once both the king and the page catch sight of the young Blanche, they fall madly in lust with her. They see her as ripe for the taking, and both make passes at her; indeed, on one occasion, the king is attacked by Nicolas believing it to be the page, Bartolomeo, who he knows is after her. Slowly the old baron becomes jealous and believes his young wife has been unfaithful and, after a series of incidents, ends up bricking Bartolomeo up in his wife’s chamber, much to the chagrin of the king.
Buñuel and Borowczyk held one important thing in common; both made the majority of their best work in France, but both were émigrés, from Spain and Poland respectively. Watching Borowczyk’s tale it’s impossible not to notice the similarities – it surely was an influence – to Buñuel’s Viridiana. Both feature saintly naïve women lusted after by much older men, and both feature close to incestuous trysts. Both likewise place much importance on the symbolism of the crucifix. Buñuel’s heroine, however, is more resourceful in her way, she has an inner strength. Blanche is a fluttery dove of a thing, seemingly always on the run from one lusting suitor to the not so safe arms of another. She dresses ultra-conservatively, either living up to her name in virginal white with lace headdress or in sombre grey, as if mourning herself in life. There’s also a touch of the surreal about much of the imagery and symbolism that Buñuel would have appreciated; monks hiding in secret passageways, bibles with hidden knives, dwarves, ornate green chambers and even an omnipresent monkey. Blanche and her pet dove seem one and the same, both within cages, though Blanche is unaware of hers. It’s like a fairy tale written in blood, which is not to say that there’s much violence – compare it say to the blood and guts carnage and sexual violence of Vlacil’s Marketa Lazarova or Tavernier’s La Passion Béatrice – but there is a violence here, an innate savagery born out of lust. Blanche is not in any way aware of why the men are so attracted to her, so desiring to sleep with her. It could not occur to her that it’s that very purity that drives them to it.
Borowczyk’s whole artistry is a joy to behold, from his setting it in the hues of autumn, with a carpet of leaves covering the forest, to his own stunning interior designs. He’s helped also by some memorably authentic original period music, and by the pitch-perfect performances of his cast. Simon in particular is memorably grotesque as the decrepit old husband in his last major role and Perrin is always a welcome face, but it’s Branice you remember, with the same nervous glances that were first seen in his earlier Goto, Island of Love. There’s none of the sex and nudity of the later Borowczyk smut classics (aside from a brief bathing shot in the opening minute), and yet it’s very much an adult film, one which climaxes most chillingly to the sound of galloping hooves.
This is probably Borowczyk’s greatest film, and his visual artistry has never manifested itself is such seasonal hues and such a rich, painterly color palette. I completely concur on the correlation with Bunuel, and was sad to see the failing Michel Simon losing his screen presense.
Great, great review of a film few have seen, but happily one that is coming out on DVD soon, as per Mr. Fish’s related information to me.
No, Sam, old boy, once again you didn’t read my email properly. I have a DVDR copy of the film which will be sent to you in the next parcel. However, with the slow progress of the first two, that may be a while…LOL
OH YEAH RIGHT……OF COURSE. I MUST HAVE SEEN THIS ONE AT LEAST A HUNDRED TIMES.
I REALLY DIG SUBTITLED MOVIES.
Very promising feature here, but until now I have never heard mention of it at all.
Sadly. not many people have, Joe.
I’ll have to use up one of my favors with Sam to secure a copy, Allan.
Yup, though I won’t be sending it to him on DVDR until he makes progress with the last parcel I sent him, which he can’t do as he’s always on here…you see where this is going?
Was this film recorded off TV or, perhaps, tranferred to DVDR from a personal reel-to-reel? This film sounds utterly fascinating. Thanks Dennis
From BBC2 in the mid 90s, though there was a BFI VHS, too.
Haven’t seen this film but this is a great piece. Allan, given some of your rankings here as well as some of your film choices I might confuse you with the iconoclastic Rosenbaum if I didn’t know better!
It’s easy to tell me apart from Rosenbaum, Kaleem, just use a talent homing device and I’ll be the one the light is flashing away from.
You are selling yourself much too short..
Dear Allan Fish – I first saw this film on BBC2 sometime in the seventies, and have been haunted by images from it ever since. Your comment that it is a ‘joy to behold’ is exact. It’s a bit of sticking my neck out to ask if you might be able to supply a copy of the DVDR, but I’d be happy to offer something in return.
In the meantime, thanks for your fascinating blog. Best wishes,
Peter Dickie
I would love to find a DVD copy of Borowczyk’s Blanche. Any ideas?
Also I recommend you try to see Warwich Thornton’s Samson and Delilah, the winner of last year’s Camera D’Or at Cannes. A stunning first film by an indigenous Australian director.
Lise, where are you based?
I saw Blanche at a film festival in ’72 in the SF Bay Area. I was so young then, maybe, but I thought it was a fantastic movie.
I would love to see it again!
Would it be possible to buy a copy of Blance, preferably in English, or with English subtitles, please?
Thanks
HP
I was bowled over by this film when I first encountered it on BBC2 when they screened it in the early hours of New Years Day back in either 1989 or 1990, then finally managed to record it to VHS when they screened it again a few years later (albeit with an awful picture due to a set-top aerial). Finally managed to obtain a very good quality DVD-R, which I believe was ripped from a BFI VHS, around five years ago, and have never looked back. Until we finally see a decent, remastered release of this (which, after many years of emailing all the usual suspects, doesn’t appear to be any time soon), I am more than welcome to “share the love”…
Hi people, I have uploaded it on youtube. Share this masterpiece! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fbtoFF2TII
Thanks again,
Do yo know how I can get the music from the movie. it haunts me .
the description in the movie is vague. thanks
Ewa
I wish I knew, Ewa. I have been trying to get it for years. I know it was Christian Boissonnade’s folk band who played the music (and are seen above the balcony in the film) but where it’s from and where to get it, I do not know.
Someone has uploaded the full film to Youtube. Not sure how long before it gets taken down by the suits.
13 th ?? may be 12/100 😉