Directed by:
Brian De PalmaCinematography:
José Luis AlcaineComposer:
Pino DonaggioCast:
Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace, Karoline Herfurth, Paul Anderson, Rainer Bock, Benjamin Sadler, Dominic Raacke, Max Urlacher, Katrin Pollitt, Michael Rotschopf (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
An erotic thriller in the tradition of ''Dressed To Kill'' and ''Basic Instinct'', Brian De Palma's PASSION tells the story of a deadly power struggle between two women in the dog-eat-dog world of international business. Christine possesses the natural elegance and casual ease associated with one who has a healthy relationship with money and power. Innocent, lovely and easily exploited, her admiring protégé Isabelle is full of cutting-edge ideas that Christine has no qualms about stealing. They're on the same team, after all... Christine takes pleasure in exercising control over the younger woman, leading her one step at a time ever deeper into a game of seduction and manipulation, dominance and humiliation. But when Isabelle falls into bed with one of Christine's lovers, war breaks out. On the night of the murder, Isabelle is at the ballet, while Christine receives an invitation to seduction. From whom? Christine loves surprises. Naked she goes to meet the mystery lover waiting in her bedroom. (Wild Bunch Distribution)
(more)Reviews (2)
The expressive means are the classical mainstream of Brian De Palma – nothing innovative or superfluous. But unfortunately, as it is traditional in his works, there too many script twists, mindfuck situations and plot turns. And adding some Lynch-like stuff to all of that is not very wise, either. Still, it's impossible not to prase the refined aesthetics and work with music and camera.
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A sober psychological thriller that smartly builds tension across parallelisms and constructive shots and montages that follow several storylines. The development of Noomi Rapace relies on the likeness of Rachel’s actions, while the plot develops according to the expectations of an erotic thriller about revenge (the sex is not very explicit, but represents a key motivational element) that is disrupted (again through parallelisms) by the intervention of a third party and the effectively variable communicativeness. The resolution is simple, but De Palma delivers it in a flamboyant dreamlike style that leaves room for diverse interpretations, which for me is a sign of filmmaking talent. Also, another great role for Rachel McAdams. 85%
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