Kelly WandBaise Moi
December 27th 2006 04:32
Some films are easier to write about than others. “Baise Moi” (Translated variously as “Kiss Me”, “Rape me” or – more accurately “Fuck Me”) was never going to fit in the easy category. Banned in its native France (a feat that takes some doing), controversy has dogged it at every step. In Australia, it was shown for a couple of days before being banned and withdrawn.
Wrapped in numb nihilism, it shocks at every turn. Clearly, it is a political film. Unlike many exploitation films in this genre that often (falsely) boast feminist credentials, this is a film written and directed by women; Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi. The cover, however, boasts phrases like “actual penetration” and “graphic hardcore” as distributors try to make their porn buck on the side. I find it hard to believe that anyone could find its contents in any way arousing. Perhaps I am just naive enough to hope nobody could find its contents arousing.
I immediately think of the infamous “I spit on your grave”. Beginning with a truly horrendous rape, this film then has the audacity to pretend it is some kind of vehicle for female empowerment by having the woman take revenge by drawing her rapists into sexual situations before killing them. She, of course, couldn’t just run them down with a car or blow their frigging brains out, she has to show them the tenderness of sex. Who can forget the line “That was so good it hurts” as a rapist has his penis cut off in the bath. Well, believe me, I’ve tried. “I spit on your grave” was directed by a man.
“Baise Moi” opens in the kind of France we know from “La Haine” and miserable existential novels by Camus. Certainly, “Amelie” doesn’t live here and, if she did, let’s help her immigrate.
Nadine and her friend work as prostitutes. They are kidnapped by a group of thugs and raped. Whilst her friend is clearly traumatised by this act, Nadine takes it numbly. She is so unaffected by the act that her rapist gives up out of boredom. This is not one of the more pleasant scenes in modern cinema. I turned the DVD off and had a cup of tea. I considered whether I should continue watching. If the point of art is to make us ask questions, then clearly this succeeds.
Nadine kidnaps another woman called Manu because Manu knows how to drive. Manu’s drug dealing friend has just died and the only thing she has left to live for is the delivery of some forged documentaries.
Fairly soon these two have killed a woman at a cash point machine mainly because they can. Something within the two women has just clicked, their mutual nihilism. In a relationship where no boundaries are present, they spiral into further violence. They pick up men and they fuck them. They pick up men and they kill them. They pick up men and they fuck then kill them. They visit brothels and kill everybody.
There is no rhyme or reason to what they do. Everything seems to happen on a whim. The sex is cold. The killings are cold. Everything in the movie is wrapped in the kind of numbness caused of enormous pain. The one scene of joy in the whole movie involves the two women dancing in a hotel room.
“Baise Moi” is, however, an important film. The DVD cover talks of the film being an “expression of Female Sexual Rage” which it isn’t. This is a film about a world that has gone past rage into a complete absence of feeling where nothing means anything anymore. It is a long pained howl of a movie about the kind of world we fear we live in; a world that has gotten so bad we forget how to be people.
The strange thing is, this numbness gives us a window of empathy with these characters. We are left to feel their pain for them.
Wrapped in numb nihilism, it shocks at every turn. Clearly, it is a political film. Unlike many exploitation films in this genre that often (falsely) boast feminist credentials, this is a film written and directed by women; Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi. The cover, however, boasts phrases like “actual penetration” and “graphic hardcore” as distributors try to make their porn buck on the side. I find it hard to believe that anyone could find its contents in any way arousing. Perhaps I am just naive enough to hope nobody could find its contents arousing.
I immediately think of the infamous “I spit on your grave”. Beginning with a truly horrendous rape, this film then has the audacity to pretend it is some kind of vehicle for female empowerment by having the woman take revenge by drawing her rapists into sexual situations before killing them. She, of course, couldn’t just run them down with a car or blow their frigging brains out, she has to show them the tenderness of sex. Who can forget the line “That was so good it hurts” as a rapist has his penis cut off in the bath. Well, believe me, I’ve tried. “I spit on your grave” was directed by a man.
“Baise Moi” opens in the kind of France we know from “La Haine” and miserable existential novels by Camus. Certainly, “Amelie” doesn’t live here and, if she did, let’s help her immigrate.
Nadine and her friend work as prostitutes. They are kidnapped by a group of thugs and raped. Whilst her friend is clearly traumatised by this act, Nadine takes it numbly. She is so unaffected by the act that her rapist gives up out of boredom. This is not one of the more pleasant scenes in modern cinema. I turned the DVD off and had a cup of tea. I considered whether I should continue watching. If the point of art is to make us ask questions, then clearly this succeeds.
Nadine kidnaps another woman called Manu because Manu knows how to drive. Manu’s drug dealing friend has just died and the only thing she has left to live for is the delivery of some forged documentaries.
Fairly soon these two have killed a woman at a cash point machine mainly because they can. Something within the two women has just clicked, their mutual nihilism. In a relationship where no boundaries are present, they spiral into further violence. They pick up men and they fuck them. They pick up men and they kill them. They pick up men and they fuck then kill them. They visit brothels and kill everybody.
There is no rhyme or reason to what they do. Everything seems to happen on a whim. The sex is cold. The killings are cold. Everything in the movie is wrapped in the kind of numbness caused of enormous pain. The one scene of joy in the whole movie involves the two women dancing in a hotel room.
“Baise Moi” is, however, an important film. The DVD cover talks of the film being an “expression of Female Sexual Rage” which it isn’t. This is a film about a world that has gone past rage into a complete absence of feeling where nothing means anything anymore. It is a long pained howl of a movie about the kind of world we fear we live in; a world that has gotten so bad we forget how to be people.
The strange thing is, this numbness gives us a window of empathy with these characters. We are left to feel their pain for them.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
This is my sort of movie, sadly when i saw it I was disappointed with Baise Moi.
Thought it ended up sloppily edited, poorly shot and I really didnt feel anything for the characters. The script too lost its way.
Hope you had a merry Xm,as buddy and its great to have you back.
Comment by Bob Short
Funnily enough, I was so affected by Baise Moi that I actually had to think about what I was going to write for about two weeks. The editing style and the fact that it appeared to be shot on Super VHS or Hi 8 video only added to the effect.
BTW Tonight(Saturday 30th December), I'm playing a gig at the Gladstone Hotel in Dulwich Hill some time after 10pm. Any readers shouls feel free to rock up. Admission is free.
Bob