The film's slick veneer, pace and final murderous intent reminded me of Chabrol territory.
I found the film an 'easy' watch but a bit tedious until Julian began taking his photos of Elena and then the film descended into sweet obsession and became good.
A bird sings and the mountain's silence deepens.share
In my opinion the movie lacked something. It was hard for me to identify with or relate to any of the characters. It's not like I feel I have to see myself in these characters; I don't, but I do expect to see something in the characters that make them seem like real people.
I did not get that here. The characters lacked depth. The husband, for instance, was behaving like a child and didn't seem to notice that his friend was getting a little too chummy with his wife.
Though I was kind of expecting some negative outcome, I don't feel there was anything to explain Julian's actions. What would cause a seemingly normal, well-adjusted person to change so radically? Are we to believe he had known Elena and had been involved with her in some way? So what he saw her beating a drum in some festival once and she refused to own up to it. What kind of crazy coincidence was it that his nurse looked so much like his friend's wife? There's so much I feel that went unexplained; probably because they were beyond any rational explanation.
Obviously, I missed something but is it because it wasn't made clear enough for me to understand or was simply not there? If this is reminiscent of Chabrol, I doubt I would like his work. The movie did remind me a lot of some other directors, also Spanish, whose work does not appeal to me in the least; Bunuel would be one.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]
Hi mdonin, thanks for your interesting post. Unfortunately my recall of the film is not good enough to respond fully. Your comparison with other Spanish directors is intriguing; I've seen a few Buñuel films and I'm very and up down with them.
The characters lacked depth. The husband, for instance, was behaving like a child and didn't seem to notice that his friend was getting a little too chummy with his wife.There are quite a few Chabrol films like this, possibly even the majority but he has some gems. I didn't find the characterisation in Peppermint Frappé satisfying either but I did like the darkening film.
I'm scared of the middle place between light and nowhereshare
Hi Poppy, since my last post here I looked up Chabrol's films and noticed I have seen quite a few of them. Who knew! I just don't pay that much attention to the director even after I see the movie. I don't want to prejudge movies in that way or categorize then afterward.
Anyway, looking through the list of the ones I've seen, there are some I kind of liked and others not so much. As I recall, all of them were strange but not in the way that would draw me to them. That said, I would agree that this movie, Peppermint Frappe, seems to have similarities to Chabrol's movies.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]
I appreciate your points. I didn't find Julián was a "seemingly normal, well-adjusted person" at all, though.
He is a single, 40-something man who regularly clips photos of beautiful, very thin women from foreign magazines. He becomes obsessed with his friend's wife. At one point he urges Ana to use the rowing machine at his place to make herself thinner, and pushes her to do 100 reps. Then he tells her she has to shower, in his apartment, after the event. Then he pricks her with a needle, and starts kissing her where he hurt her. This is just creepy stuff.
It becomes clear, after watching his behavior, that something darker exists beneath the surface, and will eventually erupt. It is very Chabrol-esque.
I have seen many Chabrol films, and most of Bunuel's, and have to say that all through this film I was thinking about both directors. I suppose the mystery and plot elements of Chabrol were there, as well as the surreal and mind bending nature of a Bunuel film.
Enjoyed it a lot, if not quite as much as the best Chabrol and Bunuel films. It didn't have the humor of Bunuel, and wasn't as wryly twisted as Chabrol. Very good though!