Plot Synopsis: The latest body horror from Julia Ducournau, Titane follows a young pregnant serial killer who finds an unlikely home once on the run. That's putting it lightly.
Julia Ducournau burst onto the scene with the 2016 body horror 'Raw', a gruesome body horror film following a cannibalistic student. Ducournau showed great craftsmanship with an intriguing story combining the best elements of a Cronenberg flick with themes of family and sexuality pulsating through a wicked, vibrant atmosphere. The film gained many plaudits with its fair share of controversy following due to its graphic nature. However, any critics of Ducournau's story have clearly not gotten to her, with her latest feature 'Titane' being an even more emphatic and provocative piece.
To say that 'Titane' isn't necessarily the most marketable of films for general audiences would be an understatement, with the film truly being one of the most bizarre in recent years. Especially within its first half, there is an abundance of chaos as Ducournau wastes no time in provoking many different reactions within the audience. At first, the madness can be quite overwhelming with it certainly very unclear as to where the film is going, especially with an elongated sex scene thrust in amongst great violence.
However, as the film goes on it takes more of a shape of a touching family drama, perhaps the biggest shock following the earlier images. This is where Ducournau shows her great skill as a director/writer as she weaves a very human and relating story in amongst the mayhem. The story moves away from the complete madness, still with a healthy dose, but follows a developed relationship that is expertly handled. Themes of acceptance and reliance are clear with a great deal of tension being kept through secrecy between the characters as the two leads carry the second half tremendously.
Agathe Rousselle shines in a great debut, with a particularly muted performance in the second half of the film, with her glare being especially effective. This is a great performance with a lot of physical acting where Rousselle has to really drive her character's thoughts without an awful lot of lines, shining as the film continues. Her chemistry with Vincent Lindon, a vulnerable ageing fireman, is tremendous with the growth of their bond clearly visible as well as infectious. The relationship between the two has its uncomfortable moments but has a strange sweetness within for the most part. Again, the film is designed to provoke and doesn't shy away from continuing to push boundaries. The two characters give each other what they need in an unconventional father-daughter relationship with the two performances coinciding to create something special.
Titane certainly isn't for everyone, especially those for the faint of heart. The film isn't quite as streamlined as Ducournau's previous effort, with that being a difficult task due to the punches it attempts. Its pure absurdity at times will certainly turn people away. With that, though, Titane is an incredibly ambitious artsy film that still provides greatness within its body horror and deeper meanings. Ducournau is one of the brightest talents emerging in world cinema and with her creating a story like this, you can't possibly imagine what she has up her sleeve next.
Rating: 4/5
Comentarios