Francois Ozon's Muses

2023 Author: Amber Richards | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-22 00:24

It's easier for me to find common ground with actresses than with actors. Perhaps because actresses take risks more easily and delve deeper into the situation. Plus, they're pretty and look much better on screen.

François Ozon's films are an ode to gorgeous French women. He has worked with Catherine Deneuve, Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Bear and many others. Every film by this director is dedicated to women. Men are given secondary and, as a rule, unenviable roles in them. Who can be called the main muses of François Ozon?

Catherine Deneuve

Catherine Deneuve has appeared in Ozone's films more than once, and her characters are undoubtedly the perfect embodiment of the so-called "Ozone heroine".

Deneuve first appeared in the film 8 Women (2001). The slogan of the film is “One of them is a killer. Who?" fully conveys the plot. 8 women are in the same house and celebrate Christmas when suddenly the owner of the house is dead. In the spirit of Ozone, each of the women has a serious motive. The drama "8 Women" is accompanied by songs performed by the main characters, and this adds charm and grace to the film. In general, "8 Women" brought together several favorites of the director (Fanny Ardant, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Bear), capable of perfectly demonstrating the union of deceit and beauty inherent in every girl, so that even without song accompaniment, he was a success. The film is a key one in the director's career, a kind of continuation and even the result of everything he worked on before.

Catherine Deneuve also starred in Desperate Housewife (2010). The film is set in 1977 France. Robert Pujol is in charge of the umbrella factory. He is cheating on his wife Suzanne (played by Catherine Deneuve) and has no way to cope with the workers' strike. Showdowns with the strikers bring Monsieur Pujol to the hospital, and Madame Pujol temporarily sits in the director's chair, having been engaged in only minor chores around the house and herself in recent years, and copes with the task perfectly. This role has long secured Deneuve the title of symbol of the feminist movement.

Catherine Deneuve

A photo: Still from the movie "8 Women"

Marina Vakt

Young and Beautiful (2013) is one of the most provocative films directed by François Ozon. The main character Isabelle, trying to find herself, begins to engage in prostitution. During the day, she is an ordinary schoolgirl who writes tests, does homework, and after school, the girl goes to five-star hotels and talks to men many times her senior for money. Although the latter seems to be not so necessary for her. The process of growing up through prostitution is rarely shown on the big screen. In addition, the film was shot beautifully and even romantically, so you should not be afraid of vulgarity.

It should be noted that Marina Vakt is more of a model than an actress. Her filmography includes only 4 works, but her track record as the face of fashion houses is much more impressive. Yves Saint Laurent, Chloe and many other brands have enjoyed working with her.

Marina Vakt

A photo: Shot from the film "Young and Beautiful"

Charlotte Rampling

Woody Allen, Sidney Lumet and Alan Parker have starred Charlotte in their iconic films. It is not surprising that Francois Ozon could not pass by the beauty and talent of the British actress.

She starred in the director's most famous film - "Pool" (2003), and a little earlier in the film "Under the Sand" (2000). It is difficult to say which of the roles was more impressive. Both times, the heroines of Charlotte had a complex character and fate, and the actress presented them to the viewer subtly, sensually and emotionally.

According to the plot of "Pool", the writer, experiencing another creative crisis, comes to the estate to gain inspiration and strength for a new book. Sarah Morton (Rampling) unexpectedly meets the daughter of her publisher, who also decided to relax at the estate. A young girl Julie turns novels, secretly brings lovers, and the venerable writer Sarah is closely watching this. The viewers, knowing Ozone well, are waiting for a love scene between an old and a young woman, when the plot becomes criminal, and the pool turns into the main location.

Marie, the heroine of Under the Sand, is Jean's wife. The couple have spent many years on holiday in the seaside region of Landes in northern France. One day the husband suddenly disappeared under unknown circumstances and now Marie will have to live without him. A real benefit performance of Charlotte Rampling, whose game simply cannot but evoke empathy.

Charlotte Rampling

A photo: Shot from the movie "Pool"

Isabelle Carré

Some believe that Isabelle was just lucky - Francois Ozon never hid that he dreamed of filming a pregnant woman, they met on time and he invited her to the shooting of "Shelter" (2009). Accident, fate or professionalism - what played the main role in the choice? Perhaps the answer is irrelevant, given that Isabelle fits perfectly into the film's outline: a carefree pregnant girl whose boyfriend suddenly dies from an overdose. The director puts at the forefront an unexpected contradiction, which nevertheless often occurs in real life - the ability to create a new life, but the inability to become a real mother (in the finale, the heroine leaves the child to her brother). It is especially important, in his own words, for him to catch on the set the moment when the future mother takes over the professional actress in Isabelle's personality. Perhaps thanks to his delicate position and the genius of the director, in this film Carre looks completely different from any other. More harsh and harsh.