Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Stephane Terperaud, Ludmila Ruoso
Director: Damien Odoul
Category: III (French)
'I'm an animal,' screeches Damien Odoul's titular character reflecting on his latest lusty rampage. One would agree with him: unlike characters in the hard-edged erotica produced by French filmmakers in recent years - Catherine Breillat's work, such as Romance or last year's The Last Mistress come to mind - Richard O. (Mathieu Amalric, above with Ludmila Ruoso) and his transgressions are devoid of emotional engagement, and lack a reflection on sexuality or intimacy that would lift the film from being merely an arty skin-flick.
The Story of Richard O. follows its anti-hero's affairs with 13 women - some of them acquaintances, some he picks up around town - with nearly all the flings shown in the most explicit of manners, including full-frontal nudity and erections ahoy. While Odoul attempts to add a soft artistic sheen, the whole premise is obviously male fantasy in action, with some of the women obsessed with violent sex. The film's first sequence sees Richard being told off by a partner disgusted at 'being betrayed' when he did not keep his promise to feign raping her as she slept. The reason for Richard's adventures is hardly new. His girlfriend wants a baby and his games are born out of a fear of monogamy and the notion of having a family. Meanwhile, Richard's friend (Stephane Terperaud) - who lends a hand in setting up the trysts - is seen engaged in a blissful relationship, despite being much more socially awkward and less seemly.
Fresh from the success of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Amalric again carries a challenging role with aplomb, deftly delivering a man whose sleazy appearance belies confusion within. However, his efforts are undermined by a narrative framework built on a hackneyed take on modern masculinity (and femininity, for that matter). While the title refers to Pauline Reage's legendary erotic novel The Story of O., Odoul's film never attains an artistic or cerebral level that can convincingly subvert conventions - and the film is a pale offering revolving round its sex scenes.