Passion (2012)

Christine: "I killed her. And they never told me that they love me ever again." 

By Brian De Palma
With Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace and Karoline Herfurth

I was excited to see Passion as I had heard about it before and more than just the lesbian undertones, the plot seemed interesting and I think Rachel McAdams, just like wine, gets better with age.

Christine and Isabelle work in the same advertising agency but it seems they have more than a simple work relationship as Christine blatantly hits on Isabelle. When Isabelle scores a good deal, Christine takes all the credit, saying that it'll make them both look good and after all it's simply business. This declares war between the two. Never too far from each other emotionally, the blows they share quickly escalate. It certainly doesn't help that they are both sleeping with the same man on the side, Dirk, an accountant who has been stealing money from the company and who Christine won't cover for anymore. While all this unfolds, Dani, Isabelle's sexy young assistant, has her eyes set on Isabelle and is increasingly annoyed by Christine's attitude. In a happy confusion of musical ecstasy, pills, sex games and dreams- a murder is committed.

What first strikes the viewer is the utter class and distinguished sense of fashion that everyone seems to share. Art meets models and workplace meets chic couture in this very clean atmosphere where the dirty deeds of jealousy are out in the open. No one is unattainable, emotionally, physically and sexually. There are no boundaries of gender and emotional issues are dealt with sex or unleashed rage.

I think a strong aspect of the movie resided in this dichotomy between two worlds that live side by side, inter-lapping most of the time: the elite and the gutter. This is true particularly in the first half of the movie,and in the second part is where your senses are put to their most extensive usage as the music tackles you and the directorial tricks have you wondering about the significance of what you see.

What is real? This might be the true question asked by Passion. A common cinematic trick, the dream, has always led to uneasiness and disbelief in the viewer's mind. Here it is not only that, but the dreams are intertwined with sleeping pills and unraveled identities.

In addition to the wardrobe and directorial tricks, the most important aspect of the movie is carried by the three main actresses. One would argue that it is mostly about the two, Isabelle and Christine (respectively Naomi Rapace and Rachel McAdams) but I think the role of Dani (Karoline Herfurth) was just as pivotal. I was in awe in front of these ladies: their characters were pure evil, yet their fragile emotions made me care for their mind games, as disgusting as they got.

What pleased me most was the uneasiness at figuring everyone out. It is possible to interpret everyone's actions in multiple ways. It certainly doesn't make it an easy film to grasp, but I tend to enjoy unraveling the mystery beyond the mystery.

There are things, however, that I didn't enjoy. The use of phone camera is a little far stretched, the fashion can be judged as an effort to camouflage style under substance, and the police is often times a caricature of what it should be. Finally, the one masculine role seemed to be a puppet that could be toyed with.

I liked: Music. Played with my mind and senses. Visually impressive. Joyous artful bisexuality of everybody involved. Cryptic color symbolism. Mysterious.

I disliked: Falls into some predictable clichés at time. A very sadistic society. Cameras everywhere.

71/100
I quite liked that I didn't get all of it and that even after discussing it, there are still different ways to interpret it. In a way, it reminded me of Chloe (2009) maybe because they are both adaptations of French movies.