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Amazon.co.uk Review
An art house movie that asks questions about the morality of art both on and off screen, The Pornographer is a hard-hitting yet strangely unmoving film. Very much a product of the French school of intellectual cinema, the filmmaker of the title is Jacques Laurent (played by Jean Pierre Leaud), a one-time director of adult films who, finding himself down on his luck, is forced to return to his old medium. Far from being a gaudy Boogie Nights style exposé of an unknown world, the film focuses on Laurent's inner turmoil and his rapidly disintegrating relationship with his wife, as well as his restored one with his son Joseph (Jeremie Renier). Director Betrend Bonello handles this material well, if overdoing the art house clichés a little, but the problem with the film (or for some its strong point) comes with the fairly hardcore sex scenes, presented as part of Laurent's movie. While intended to reflect the emptiness of the character's soul, it is hard to see past them as just an attention-grabbing device. Then again, can a film about pornography legitimately not feature sex? One suspects that this debate will run and run and, in its way, The Pornographer has much to say on the subject.
On the DVD: The Pornographer's intended release fell foul of the BBFC, who objected to one particularly explicit scene, a continuing argument that provides much of the material for the DVD's extra features. There is a reproduction of the BFFC ruling, a statement in reply from Bonello (which demonstrate the similarities he shares with his fictional counterpart, certainly when it comes to a vision of erotica) and an excellent essay from critic Pierre Perrene. In addition there are biographies, the cinematic trailer and an option to view the film with or without English subtitles. Whatever the moral questions involved, Bonello's film is a visual treat and his stylish eye is well represented by this format. --Phil Udell
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: LANGUAGES: French ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Filmographies, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Production Notes, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: A well-known adult film-maker from the '70s is brought out of semi-retirement by the offer of a job that will earn him some much needed cash. Unwilling to compromise his style and embrace the changes that 30 years' worth of developments have bought about, his experience in the modern world of porn movies forces him to re-asses his life and the relationships he has with family and freinds. This controversial French film, starring legendary actor Jean-Pierre Leaud caused outrage when the British film censors insisted that an 11-second sequence be removed from one of the film's sex scenes. When released in its native France, The Pornographer could be seen in its fully uncut version by anyone over 16 years old. The film received the prestigious FIPRESCI award at the Cannes Film Festival 2001, and has gained critical acclaim from the international film circuit. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Cannes Film Festival, Stockholm Film Festival, ...The Pornographer ( Le pornographe ) ( The Porno grapher )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
The Pornographer is a film that tires to be very controversial, but doesn't really help itself; this film could have been perfectly well told without the sex scenes which has had a 11 second cut due to the sexually explicit ending of the scene. To me, this just didn't need to be there. So the question begs; was this just trying to be a shocker to get more bums on seats at the cinema, or was there a real reasoning for it all?
Jacques Laurent (Jean-Pierre Léaud) is a porn director who's made rather explicit movies right up to 1984, when he decided to end. He's now trying to come back to it all, but his attitude to have more humanity has been dismissed by his co-workers and he really can't get back in. This makes him rather disillusioned, and he leaves his wife, to build his own home.
The best thing to come out of it all is getting back in touch with Joseph, his son, who was disgusted by the work Jacques did. They really start to form a bond.
This film isn't the best really, it does get rather tedious and tiresome, with the sex scenes really the worst - they're wooden, especially the dialogue, worse than those clips from that show "Badly Dubbed Porn", which of course is a comedy skit of the industry. Does make you wonder if this was done for effect, to get more of an audience. I can imagine some adolescent rushing home trying desperately to hide this video to find there's very little of what he was looking for.
The storyline is good, but it really could have been better told, I did like the interview he had with the press at the end, but I just think it could have been a lot more interesting. You really need to be patient to watch this film.
The extras are not too good, you get a few interviews in text format, and the BBFC's statement. You also get a few filmographies - oh and the trailer.
Worth a rent, wouldn't buy this, it's not got that elastic "I'll watch it again" effect.
Jacques Laurent (Jean-Pierre Léaud) is a porn director who's made rather explicit movies right up to 1984, when he decided to end. He's now trying to come back to it all, but his attitude to have more humanity has been dismissed by his co-workers and he really can't get back in. This makes him rather disillusioned, and he leaves his wife, to build his own home.
The best thing to come out of it all is getting back in touch with Joseph, his son, who was disgusted by the work Jacques did. They really start to form a bond.
This film isn't the best really, it does get rather tedious and tiresome, with the sex scenes really the worst - they're wooden, especially the dialogue, worse than those clips from that show "Badly Dubbed Porn", which of course is a comedy skit of the industry. Does make you wonder if this was done for effect, to get more of an audience. I can imagine some adolescent rushing home trying desperately to hide this video to find there's very little of what he was looking for.
The storyline is good, but it really could have been better told, I did like the interview he had with the press at the end, but I just think it could have been a lot more interesting. You really need to be patient to watch this film.
The extras are not too good, you get a few interviews in text format, and the BBFC's statement. You also get a few filmographies - oh and the trailer.
Worth a rent, wouldn't buy this, it's not got that elastic "I'll watch it again" effect.
63 of 70 people found the following review helpful
The pornographer is a typically French film. Beautiful locations and lots of deep discussions. the story centres on a porn film director who is rapidly being left behind by the business. He feels the need in later life to inject humanity into the films while those around him are interested in filming only the sex. One memorable scene is where they have just finished filming a sex scene and he turns to his co-director and suggests that the end of the film should contain the birth of the couple's child! All this is combined with the breakdown of his relationship with his wife, and the slow reconciliation with his son, again, typical French fare.
Much has been made of the 11 second cut of the money shot over the porn actress's face. However, although the film is very explicit in a few places I can't see how the money shot would have furthered the plot and its probably best left out. AS a discussion of pornography it is very interesting; its one of those films that purports to condemn aspects of the porn business but ends up actually compounding the ideas. This isn't a bad thing though- it just makes for more interesting discussions with your friends!
Much has been made of the 11 second cut of the money shot over the porn actress's face. However, although the film is very explicit in a few places I can't see how the money shot would have furthered the plot and its probably best left out. AS a discussion of pornography it is very interesting; its one of those films that purports to condemn aspects of the porn business but ends up actually compounding the ideas. This isn't a bad thing though- it just makes for more interesting discussions with your friends!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
The director's fury surrounding the censor's cut of the explicit scenes is justified as key dialogue is missing, without which much of the meaning is lost. In brief he asks the couple to make love with each other rather than perform sex to camera. He specifically forbids the facial money shot at the end. Nevertheless his assistant realises they are not delivering a marketable product and takes over: thus the film is ruined, his career is over and his masterpiece remains unrealised.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
the pornographer
I was dissapointed with this film..There was very little action and I am not sure why it carried an 18 rating a 15 rating would have suffice
Published 3 months ago by B OG
painting drying is more sexy
a very miserable middle aged man who has been making porn films all his life and pretending that they are art/politics suddenly hits a mid life crisis . Read more
Published 4 months ago by cartoon
Very Tedious
This is not a badly made, directed or acted movie but it is very slow and tedious. If it lasted for 60 mins instead of 110 it might even have been enjoyable. Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2009 by Agent Cooper
Torpid tale of a disappointed man
"The Pornographer" is a languid character portrait of an ageing ,glum French porn director ,played by Jean Pierre Leaud , who has become disenchanted with his chosen... Read more
Published on 10 April 2006 by L. Davidson
Most boring film ever made?
This film is unbelievably tedious. Alright - there is a sex scene - but (by design) it's sterile and lifeless. That was to demonstrate the hero's disenchantment with porn. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2003 by jelly 1960
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