- Actors: Bernard Giraudeau, Malik Zidi, Ludivine Sagnier, Anna Levine
- Directors: François Ozon
- Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
- Language English, French
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Artificial Eye
- DVD Release Date: 19 Mar 2001
- Run Time: 90 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000059YUZ
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 51,879 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Product Description
A wry and comic look at the shifting of power in sexual relationships, Francois Ozon's film is adapted from a play written but never staged by the celebrated German filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder. When the smooth-talking Leopold (Bernard Giraudeau), a successful businessman of 50, seduces 20-year-old Franz, the youngster falls under his spell and moves in with him. But, Leopold soon reveals his true colours and Franz contemplates returning to his girlfriend (Ludivine Sagnier) - until Leopold seduces her too. The arrival of Leopold's former lover Vera, a male to female transsexual, only complicates matters further. Witty and sharply observed, Water Drops on Burning Rocks bears Fassbinder's perverse sense of humour, embellished by the style and verve of Ozon, the enfant terrible of modern French cinema.
Special Features
4:3 Full Frame
16:9 Wide Screen
DVD 5
English
French
Region 2
Dolby Digital 2.0 English French
Dolby Digital 2.0
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer
Director And Cast Filmographies
English
16:9 Wide Screen
DVD 5
English
French
Region 2
Dolby Digital 2.0 English French
Dolby Digital 2.0
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer
Director And Cast Filmographies
English
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I am totally captivated by the films of this contemporary French film-maker, Francois Ozon. Having seen three of his films, "See the Sea" (1997) and "Under the Sand" (2000), and Water Drops on Burning Rocks (1999), I feel that these films all delve into a space where not many people want to go. His films seem to leave a seemingly subtle yet pervasive and deep wound. I would find myself unconsciously thinking about certain images or scenes from these films months after I have seen them.
Ozon has a gentle way of dealing with the not-so-gentle notions of love, loss, longing, and the longing of a love lost.
It's the 1970s, 50 year old Leopold and 19 year old Franz are lovers who are slowing being eaten away by time. These characters are drawn so very carefully and beautifully -- their performances and Ozon's camerawork are mesmerising. There are some very stylised shots that deliver powerful dozes of yearning and desire.
Based on a play by Fassbinder, Ozon pays a notable homage to this great German film director in one beautifully shot scene, where the camera spins around the couple. I also love the art and music direction -- the shag-piled carpet and those love songs...
Perhaps not a conventionally narrative-driven piece, (the film is very episodic) but I would place it alongside Visconti's "Death in Venice", (though the camera work is not as luxuriatingly slow) and Barbet Schroeder's recent (based on Genet's book "Our Lady of the Flowers" -- I guess) "Our Lady of the Assassins", in the film's dealings with love and love's ingratitudes.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
As in his soap parody "Sitcom", French director François Ozon again examines human love affairs. His "Water Drops On Burning Rocks" is a sort of ode to Fassbinder.
Fassbinder's movies themselves can be quite pessimistic and dark with some caustic humor (if any) but in Ozon's adaptation of his play, the story is never too dark or too gloomy to sit through because of Ozon's (sometimes embarrassing) funny portrayal of his characters.
Fassbinder's movies themselves can be quite pessimistic and dark with some caustic humor (if any) but in Ozon's adaptation of his play, the story is never too dark or too gloomy to sit through because of Ozon's (sometimes embarrassing) funny portrayal of his characters.
As in all of Ozon's movies, the main characters invariably are (sexually) troubled and frustrated people and there's no exeption in WDOBR.
Set in Berlin (suggested by postcards showed at the film's start) I was still a bit surprised to be confronted with French dialog. The story is about a fifty year old French businessman called Leopold who lures a curious young adult named Franz into his apartment where they live as lovers. The entire movie takes place in this apartment.
Underneath the kitsch seventies style and the black humour, this film has a serious topic: The very nature of desire. These are characters who will do anything in order to fulfil their desires, regardless of the destruction they cause to themselves, or in the case of Leopold, others.
In the hands of a lesser director, this movie, which in essence is a mix of sex, fetishism and cruelty, could easily amount into something insignificant and trite, but is amply helped by its compelling and lively dialogue.
If you're tired of the standard action-packed-happy-end Hollywood fare, you'll find in this thought provoking, intelligent movie a welcome alternative.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
i really became engrossed in this film. a low budget joe orton-ish type farce on the intoxication of love it had me in stiches at points. a little over the top. loved it. malik zidi is stunningly beautiful too.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
What used to be on Channel 4 before Big Brother came along
I saw this I think on BBC2 and, I'll be honest, I only bought it because the girl on the cover is hot and her clothes keep on falling off. Read more
Published on 26 May 2009 by Dmt
A guilty pleasure
I love the films of Francois Ozon (even the much derided 5x2), but I'm honest, I'm not convinced this is terribly good. Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2008 by Tonkfan
Would someone care to tell me what's going on?
The plot is relatively simple: all characters are falling desperately in love with this middle-aged man with no apparent reason. Read more
Published on 8 Dec 2002 by Alexandra Y. Kwan
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