Querelle

I saw it for Brad Davis and Jean Genet. For the gossips about its poetic air, for the way to use brutality and for atmosphere. And, after decades, it remains unique more than special. For a sort of grace, for the virtues of a kind of mist, for the certitude than only Brad Davis can be Querelle. Short, unique..

When reading Genet, the thought that his books are no good for screen adaptation will frequently occur. Fassbinder's "Querelle" might be able to prove otherwise. Still, the movie seems more like a dream to me, like passing images illustrating a story rather than telling it. Great cast!

Feels like Fassbinder is exploring the darker side of human psyche rater than being interested in some linear story-telling - and he is quite good at it. The chain of events which both leads and follows Querelle are surreal and fantastic. The theatrical tone over the picture only adds to the strong sensation of human behavior on the limit of madness and passion. Very demanding and interesting. Brad Davis is flawless in his portrayal of the lonely sailor. Burkhard Driest is also absolutely cut out for his sleazy yet fascinating character- a bribed and dirty cop who befriends Querelle not knowing that the sailor is responsible for the crimes he is investigating.

This attempt to film Genet is commendable in tackling so difficult a work. Fassbinder's scenery is so obviously studio sets that the film takes on a "filmed play" quality. The color is beautiful, and the cast is very attractive. I had difficulty in following the proceedings, and much of the printed quotatons were puzzling. Some of the fantasy inserts were likewise confusing. But the strong cast made up for many of these weak points and raised the film to a level it would otherwise never have achieved. It is still lesser Fassbinder, but an often fascinating film to watch.

Jean Genet's queer theory is still cutting edge and controversial. The film version can't begin to encompass all the ideas in the novel, but it stands on its own. This film is stylized and poetic, raw and crass. Tenderness and brutality blend until you can't tell one from the other. Betrayal becomes an act of affection. Submission is empowering. Characters travel to extremes in their journeys of self discovery. One man seduces his young lover with lecherous statements about the boy's sister, "Imagine what I'd do to her if I were holding her like I'm holding you right now." The same man later rants in a bar, "I'm all man!!! I even f*** guys!" This dichotomy of gender-play and defiant same-sexuality is at the root of Genet's queer theory. Even someone with no knowledge of Genet's philosophy will be struck by its power in this film.