A few days ago I saw this film in Amsterdam. In its realistic pessimism it made a very deep, probably everlasting, impression on me. In its cruelty the film reminded me of another masterpiece: "Breaking the waves", directed by Lars von Trier. In that film too you see a woman in a situation where she is the victim of men who only see her as a sex object. Lilja: a woman who becomes more and more deprived of her human identity. You feel powerless, because you know that always and in every country woman will be the victim of man who earn their money in sex business. You want to cry it out, like Rammstein does in the beginning of the film: "Mein Herz brennt!". But in a few scarce moments it is also a film of a real friendship between Lilja and the boy Volodya. For instance, the scene where Lilja gives a birthday present to Volodya: consolation in a disconsolate human and urban environment. Go and see this film. But be prepared: it's shock and awe.
Reviews
2 Reviews
Brief Crossing
(2001)
Sarah Pratt: great acting
9 September 2002
"Roastbeef. No chips". Something commonplace like this marks the beginning of a short relation between a woman and a young boy. A woman, who lost all her illusions about love and marriage. A young boy, attractive for the woman because he still is naive and innocent. It is especially the role played by Sarah Pratt that puts this film on a high level. Returning to the trivial roastbeef-and-chips-scène at the beginning of the film: the way Pratt argues with the waiter: "I don't want them!". That's great acting. With simple means and with only two persons that really make this film Catherine Breillat has done very good directors work. Placed in the chilly décor of a ferry boat two people attract each other and have something - something what? You can't really call it a love affair. What they do have together during the few hours of the boat trip looks tense, reliable and sometimes moving.
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