Venus in Fur-2013

Director Roman Polanski

Starring Emmanuelle Seigner, Mathieu Amalric 

Scott’s Review #270

Reviewed August 23, 2015

Grade: C

Venus in Fur is a French-language film from 2013, directed by the enormously talented Roman Polanski, and based on the American play by David Ives.

Notably, Ives’s play is based on a novel by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch titled Venus in Furs.

Polanski’s film adaptation is a filmed play. It takes place entirely within the walls of a theater, except for the opening shot, as the camera pans through the doorway as if the audience were the eyes of an approaching theatergoer.

The subject matter is quite adult- sadomasochism and dominance- though there is little nudity, and it is not perverse in any way.

The story surrounds Thomas, a stressed-out writer-director of a new play set to open soon in Paris. Finishing touches must be handled as well as casting the lead actress!

His play is an adaptation of Venus in Furs, and a frustrated Thomas is on the phone complaining about an unsuccessful day attempting to cast the lead role of Wanda.

A disheveled actress named Vanda wanders into the theater and attempts to convince Thomas to let her read for the part, which she desperately wants.

Initially, Thomas is turned off by Vanda as she is dressed slutty and is on the middle-aged side and, in his mind, wrong for the part.

When she finally does convince him to let her read for the part, she becomes Wanda, and a strong, bizarre, sadomasochistic attraction develops between the pair as they run lines together.

Roman Polanski might rank in my Top 10 favorite directors of all time (Rosemary’s Baby-1968 is one of my favorite films), but this work disappointed me.

With a cast of only two characters, I found the story limiting, and it became tedious as it developed. It was hard to tell when Thomas and Vanda were in character and when they were expressing their true selves, and I didn’t find either particularly likable.

This may have been intentional, but it was confusing and dull nonetheless.

The sexual-fetish subject matter is prevalent, but not in a tasteless way. The initial roles reverse as Vanda goes from a whimpering, pleading actress needing some work to a dominatrix who obtains control over Thomas, who in essence becomes her slave.

Thomas begins as a powerful director with an ego and ends up catering to Vanda’s every whim. They develop a deep emotional connection that they both realize at the same time.

The main issue was that I didn’t feel much connection to either character. I detected no chemistry between them. The dominant soon becomes submissive, but who cares when you are invested in neither character?

On the plus side, I loved the basic theater set. This instantly reminded me fondly of my college days rehearsing and performing in a theater similar to the one in Venus in Fur, complete with rustic red audience seats and moody ambiance.

Venus in Fur (2013) has an interesting premise as people immerse themselves in the roles they play, but it is a disappointing film, especially coming from one of the greats.

For whatever reason, the film didn’t work for me. Interesting premise, but ultimately failed for me.