Movie night: "Pola X"

Adapted from Melville's novel, Pierre, or The Ambiguities, "Pola X's" title derives from its acronym in French translation: Pierre ou les ambiguïtés, plus the Roman numeral "X" (indicating the tenth draft version of the script that was used to make the film).

Set in modern-day France, Pierre (Guillaume (son of Girard) Depardieu) is an author living with his mother (Catherine Deneuve) in a pseudo-incestuous relationship. His novel is a bestseller and he is engaged to the lovely Lucie (Delphine Chuillot). But he is haunted by visions of the mysterious Isabelle (Yekaterina Golubeva)--a feral woman more specter than real, who turns out to be his secret half-sister. Enraptured by this otherworldly being, he discards his life of comfort and happiness for a Bohemian enclave, and dives head-first into a world of madness and passionate excess.

Films have flouted social standards for nearly as long as the medium has existed, but director Leos Carax's approach to taboo is unique. Like Pierre himself, "Pola X" breaks convention and pushes the bounds of decency: the film's narrative structure deteriorates in tandem with Pierre's sanity, and it features a notorious scene of explicit sex. (Note: The film will be censored for this meetup.)

Runtime: 2h 15m. In French with English subtitles.

This meetup will consist of a live viewing, accompanied by discussion and analysis.

Supplemental:

• Pola X trailer

This meetup is part of a series on Fig Leaves and Fancy Pants.