Le plaisir (et ses petits tracas) (1998)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Nicolas Boukhrief

Writers:

Nicolas Boukhrief (writer)
Dan Sasson (writer)

Release Date:

1 January 1998 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Sex | Beautiful Woman | AIDS | Female Nudity

Cast

Mathieu Kassovitz	...	Roland
Vincent Cassel	...	Michael
Julie Gayet	...	Véra
Foued Nassah	...	Marcel
Florence Thomassin	...	Lise
Caroline Cellier	...	Hélène
Michele Placido	...	Carlo
Andrea Coftis	...	Rocco
Francis Renaud	...	Raphaël
Delphine Zingg	...	Juliette
Roland Marchisio	...	Raoul
Dan Sasson	...	Yoyo
Patrick Goossens	...	Le blessé
Virginie Darmon	...	Jeanne, l'infirmière
Christine Paolini	...	Convive #1

Also Known As:

Pleasure (And Its Little Inconveniences) (USA)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

France | Belgium

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

France:-12

Company:

Artémis Productions

Never a dull moment

The format of this film is similar to that of La Ronde filmed in 1950. It is a series of sexual episodes in which one of the characters moves from one episode to the next. This gives each actor an opportunity of 15 minutes of stardom, and they all do well in portraying a motley array of characters.

The film starts literally with a bang and ends with a strangulation. In between there are numerous events both strange and unpredictable involving drugs and homosexuality, a deaf-mute and a potential suicide. The odd characters assembled in this movie are each in their own way in search of sexual gratification. They are a rather unhappy lot but generally interesting and entertaining. Because of the format the stories perhaps are a little contrived at times and the cross-over point from one episode to the next is not always clearly defined. Sometimes this is done on purpose to introduce an element of surprise when the sexual partners are revealed by the camera. Interest is maintained throughout as the action proceeds at a good pace and I have to admit there is never a dull moment. The musical sound effects seem just right with their haunting and unhappy mood.

If one is to choose among the actors the character of Marcel is particularly interesting as a handsome drug-addicted thief and the hospital nurse and wounded soldier in the early scene give truly genuine performances.