La Grande Bouffe (1973)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Just what I expected

A Disappointing Continuation

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

This is a sort of adventure in shocking an audience. It failed with me because I've been exposed to so many more incisive things.But I like the way it is put together. It is a sort of "Love's Labors Lost" meets "8 1/2 Women." Though both those films came after, they are far superior.Four men gather in order to eat themselves to death via gourmet food. They attempt it in remote solitude, but love and sex intrude. First, we have some prostitutes, then a chubby local schoolmarm who falls for them all. The sex — with her — is tender, never hungry and significant. She becomes a sort of witness, our surrogate in the thing, watching as each of her lovers expire from life, because of determined living.There is a scene copied later a much better in "8 1/2 Women" where our woman masturbates an old man while he expires. There it is a gift; here a duty. And that's the problem — the thing has no poetry. Sure, there are plenty of attempted metaphors, but they all seem mechanical.The grand sweep has us with relationships as passion, passion as sex, sex as consumption, consumption leading to death. A meal late in the game is "ass tart." I think this could be done effectively and may have been done somewhere. But meanwhile, I recommend the later films.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

Seeing this again after a gap of many years I was struck by the fact that it seemed at once more sexy and much more gross. I remembered the humour and the surreal touches as well as the excellent performances from Marcello Mastroianni, Michel Piccoli and Phillippe Noiret but was surprised at the sensational and pivotal performance from the delightfully plump, Andrea Ferreol. The guys have arranged a giant eating session, later spiced up with the ordering of three prostitutes as we come to realise that their intention is to eat and f*** themselves to death. Andrea plays the 'innocent' local school teacher, also roped in and it is she who ends up showing the rest a thing or two. It is a marvellous, sexy and invigorating performance amidst the disgusting surroundings of gluttonous eating mixed with vomit and s**t. Not an easy view, I'm not even sure to whom I might recommend it. A restaurant critic perhaps!

La Grande Bouffe is, of course, a parody of how far one may go to end this life on Earth. The film was like a bomb in the industry at that time but today it has, perhaps, another meaning. The sexual relation that the teacher (Andrea) is over going in the film was in the 70 very provocative and still is. She, by the way, is the only one getting out alive in the film. All five actors are playing true people that don't compromise. They stand behind what they believe in. Nobody was asked to take the film seriously but everybody is taking it personalty : who wants to die of an overdose of food and sex ? Good question. Why not. Personnaly, I appreciated Andrea's free will and sexy style : of course I am a man : subsequently a macho : but, that is another discussion.

Marco Ferreri's ultra film resembles the lugubrious "Salo",but "La Grande ..." is superior.A macabre story about five cranks (4 men and a Miss,who comes in later,as the men's guest) who lurk to eat.Possibly,a surrealistic joke (but I have my reservations about this kind of lexicon,since the worst critics,confronted with playful movies like "La Grande ..." or "Kill Bill",usually resort to such pointless rubbish,getting lost in mumbling "symbolical" interpretations, and keep speaking about ...semiotics,etc.,that kind of crap;but a movie is a show,not a textbook of "symbols",allegories,etc..).A story of brutal grotesque,including visually (e.g.,the sex scenes between Mrs. Ferreol and the four men).It is also a kind of a Marxian diatribe,a scabrous, contemptuous,even fanatical,but far-sighted Marxian satire,about consumerism,lechery,an obese Nympho and farts.Were it not true that style is the substance (the 2 are not like 2 ingredients),"La Grande ..." would be a perfect case of "Style Over Substance ";but since this idea is not acceptable,and the style is the substance,we must conclude that the style itself is flawed in this movie (because of this lack of content),though the technical skills of Ferreri are undeniable.It certainly is an impressive and thumping movie.A ferocious,savory,sarcastic,licentious,scathing and sardonic,and visually copious flick,"La Grande ..." coins many memorable scenes:(1) the morning tenderness between "Philippe" and "Nicole",one of the most bizarre love scenes ever;(2)the "Andrea" tart;(3)the funeral courtyard,packed with dogs and viands. Beautiful cinematography,and a lecherous show.It kind of grows on you,the more you think about it,the more you analyze it.Marco Ferreri was a master;in showing sexuality,some directors are constipated, banal and ridiculously solemn (Bertolucci,even ...Antonioni);others are concupiscent (Brass);Marco Ferreri avoids both traps.The characters are accurately molded.Mastroianni is handsome and well-dressed."La Grande ..." is a highly esteemed,far-famed,very acclaimed fetish,its reputation always precedes it.I must admit I expected something better;one of the movie's main strengths is the cast,although "La Grande ..." in no way can be called a Mastroianni,or a Tognazzi,or a Noiret film.(I do not regard it as an actor-movie,although the acting is flawless;it is certainly an auteur-movie.Not especially for those who want a Mastroianni movie,or a Tognazzi movie,but for those who look for a Marco Ferreri movie.I will not treat it,here,as a Mastroianni/ Tognazzi/Noiret/Mrs. Ferreol movie.Marco Ferreri uses them as a quintet,or as a five-heads monster)It is a dejected flick about excess, dehumanization, dementia,uncouthness,etc.,very a la Bataille/Blanchot.The excess is a Sade/Bataille/Blanchot/Baudrillard theme,taken over by Pasolini,etc..The treatment of this theme here succeeds in giving a grim,sardonic,sensual show,and a Marxist digression.(My mother,with whom I watch and/or discuss many movies,strongly dislikes both Piccoli and Noiret;she considers the later precious,ridiculous and affected.Anyway,Noiret performs richly in "La Grande ...".)