I have somehow seen every film made by Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani, despite never being won over by them. Some individual moments have worked, but I have generally disliked their work. And I didn't like this feature either. In a surprise turn of events, however, I kind of loved it.
The story revolves around the memories and confusion of a retired spy, John D. (played in old age by Fabio Testi, played in his younger years by Yannick Renier). That's all you need to know. In fact, when I read the online summary that says "a retired spy suspects his former adversaries have resurfaced when his intriguing neighbor vanishes" I have to admit that I still couldn't quite piece everything together.
Like other films from Cattet and Forzani, this is an experience built on homage and the fetishization of certain aspects (you always get to hear some leather creaking in their movies, heat and breathing often feature heavily, and the violence is stylised and often disturbingly sexually-charged). Unlike their other films, this one is easier to become immersed in. It managed to become a stunning work of art, both emulating and also becoming what is so beloved within the heart of it all.
Maybe my enjoyment here was due to being more easily able to spot the main reference points (equal parts Bond and a certain celebrated Mario Bava title). I have always know the playgrounds that Cattet and Forzani were enjoying, but I would argue that previous features were less interesting because the experimental nature of their film-making seemed to supersede the sheer entertainment factor. This does an equally good job with both sides of that balancing act.
It helps that both Testi and Renier are believably suave and capable in their roles. Maria de Medeiros may be the only other familiar face for many (she certainly was for me), but the best supporting turns come from both Thi Mai Nguyen and Céline Camara, both being superb contenders for some award that can be given to "Bond girls who weren't actually Bond girls." Once again, the film-makers use their cast as minor pieces in a game that is all about style and design, but they've helped themselves immensely by casting people who can help to keep viewers engaged as we jump around from one bit of visual gorgeousness to the next.
Imagine if James Bond was elderly and damaged from his many years on the job. What would he think of those around him, and how easily could he keep his memories in order? Would the past continue to invade the present, and how much of it would be his actual past, compared to the many legends to have been spun around his career highlights? I think the end result would be a man very much like the central character presented here, which is why I loved this. It's a Bond who may still be capable, but is weighed down by the baggage of regrets, loss, loneliness, and his own deterioration. Someone who once thought that diamonds were forever, but now sees snippets of memories, real and false, refracted through the titular dead precious gemstone.
9/10
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