Film: And God Created Women

I watched this Bridget Bardot classic again the other night.

Bardot doesn't only just look fantastic, the opening scene with her sunbathing naked and the spying wheelchair-bound man must have been shocking for the 1950s and this film went on to become an international best seller. She also gives a strong performance of a willful young Madame. She delights in being provactive and shocking to all around even those who are trying to help.

The film narrates the experience of Juliette, an 18-year old orphan with a high level of sexual energy. She also has a custom of walking around barefoot. These factors cause a stir and attract the attentions of men.

Though by no means her first film, it is widely recognized as the vehicle that launched Bardot into the public spotlight and immediately created her "sex kitten" persona.

When the film was released in the United States by distributor Kingsley-International Pictures in 1957, it pushed the boundaries of the representation of sexuality in American cinema, making Bardot an overnight sensation. It was condemned by the Catholic League of Decency.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_God_Created_Woman_(1956_film)

One thing which impressed me was the way Nadjib saw the film from all perspectives: the beautiful but broken young girl, the rutting young men, the cantankerous middle-aged woman jealous of the younger woman. He understood the subtext and themes of film.

There is a fight scene which caught my attention, is it that we were less violent / aggressive in those days? Perhaps it is modern cinematography but  this scene didn't hurt like modern bone crunching fight scenes.

Another beautiful feature of the film was village life in the south of France, a picturesque little village, unfortunately with the growth of the suburbs these sorts of charming villages are being built up ito small towns...

cantankerous |kanˈta ng kərəs|

adjective: bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative : a crusty, cantankerous old man.

ORIGIN mid 18th cent.: of unknown origin; perhaps a blend of Anglo-Irish cant [auction] and rancorous (see rancor ).

Madame |məˈdäm; -ˈdam|

noun ( pl. Mesdames |māˈdäm; -ˈdam|)

a title or form of address used of or to a French-speaking woman : Madame Bovary.

• used as a title for women in artistic or exotic occupations, such as musicians or fortune-tellers.

ORIGIN French; compare with madam .