the duke of burgundy
[spoiler alert]
i won’t discuss whether the movie is good or bad; i just want to highlight a few points. let me dive in directly.
things that didn't make sense:
Cynthia keeps trying to connect emotionally with Evelyn, but it feels futile, so much so that you start to wonder why she even bothers.
although it initially seems like Evelyn is submissive, she’s actually very controlling [but not really :) it is just to a point Cynthia allows her to be]. Evelyn cheated, too. and did she even truly care about Cynthia's physical and emotional pain?
when Cynthia reaches a breaking point and can’t continue their “game,” Evelyn suddenly decides she can change. she calls it a “luxury.” but if it was just that, why did she immediately seek out another woman the moment Cynthia couldn’t give her what she wanted?
Evelyn’s transformation feels unconvincing. Cynthia doesn’t believe her when she says “I love you” and neither do we as viewers.
in the end, it felt like they chose to keep the performance alive, not the relationship.
things i liked about the movie:
this wasn’t meant to be a comedy, but Knudsen's facial expressions cracked me up more than a few times.
Sidse Babett Knudsen, every single scene. she’s absolutely stunning.
the surreal, Mulholland Drive style sequences toward the end were a treat. this time, though, the camera doesn’t dive into a blue box, it slips between Cynthia’s legs. bold choice.
the visuals from nature were atmospheric.