Anne Bennent in Swann in Love (1984)

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Review

This is a multi-lingual Volker Schloendorff (The Tin Drum) film of part of Proust's ponderous masterpiece Remembrance of Things Past. It takes place, of course, in fin de siecle Paris, where Big Jer is a mover and shaker and the usual phony-baloney Count or something. He runs into a bit of a problem when he falls in love with a low-born courtesan and has to choose between his wealthy and powerful place in society or his beloved slut. Unfortunately, a wrong choice could result in neither because the love interest doesn't seem to love him back, and continues her promiscuous ways. This results in plenty of opportunities for society to ridicule him, and for Jeremy Irons to deliver many anguished facial expressions, as is his wont.

The movie is currently unavailable. I would love to see it on DVD if for no other reasons than (1) the cinematographer is my favorite, Sven Nykvist (2) one of the things he gets to photograph is the magnificent Ornella Muti.

Written by: Scoopy...Scoopy.net