ROUGE BAISER

France, 1985, 112 minutes, Colour.
Charlotte Valandrey, Lambert Wilson, Marthe Keller, Laurent Terzieff.
Directed by Vera Belmont.

Rouge Baiser is a French, West German co-production directed by Vera Belmont, an autobiographical story. She contributed to the screenplay.

The film has a prologue, in black and white, in Paris 1937. It focuses on Polish- Jewish refugees in Paris. The scene then shifts to 1952 and focuses on Branca's 15-year-old daughter, Nadia. The group is communist in the time of Stalin, with an admiration for Stalin. However, as the action continues and Nadia becomes involved with a photographer, it emerges that there is a strong anti-Stalinist approach in the film. Branca's lover, Moische, re-emerges after 15 years in the camps of Siberia, a victim of Soviet anti-Semitism. The plot is also complex with the photographer being arrested and accused of statutory rape and opting to take service in Indo- China, '53 to '55, instead of prison. This, of course, brings up the involvement of the French in Indo- China and the defeat and Dien Bien Phu.

The film is complex in its presentation of characters - but is an interesting retrospect on staunch communists of the Stalinist period.

1. Interesting and entertaining film? Portrait of people and relationships? Portrait of ideologies and people committed to ideologies? The semi-autobiographical plot and the contribution of the director?

2. The black and white prologue, the colour photography of Paris in the '50s - suggestions of atmosphere? The musical score - and the title song, heard on the radio?

3. The title - the kiss of communism? The make-up? The song on the radio?

4. The prologue, 1937? The neighbourhood in Paris? Branca, her work as a dressmaker? Her pregnancy? Her relationship with Moishe? The communist, afraid of the police? His return to Moscow, promise to send for her? The black and white photography in contrast with the colour?

5. The shift to Paris, 1952? The neighbourhood, Branca and her work as a dressmaker? Her marriage to Herschel? Nadia, Branca's love for her daughter? Communism? Branca and her concern about Nadia's behaviour? With the young people? The police? Nadia's relationship with Stephane? His photographs? The sudden return of Moische? Herschel's anxiety? The response to Moische's anti-Stalinist speech? Branca and her love for Herschel? Her memories of Moische? Nadia's troubles, the possibility of prosecution of Stephane? Her being expelled from the party? Nadia and her talking with her mother about the past, about Moische? Uncle Vanya and the encounter with Moische? Branca's memory of performing in the cherry orchard?

6. Nadia, her background, accepting communism? Accepting Stalinism - and writing to Stalin? Her being a 15-year-old girl, wanting to have fun? The clubs, the youth and their roughness in the neighbourhood? The anti-American demonstration? The police, their attack? Her being rescued by Stephane? His taking photos of her face and wounds? The friendship? Disdaining his lack of commitment, calling him bourgeois, involvement with the fascist paper? His hearing her exaggerating the police brutality? The meeting and the protest against the arrest of the communist leader? Her going with Stephane to the jazz club St. Germaine? Her criticism of his friends, their decadence? Her being upset with the photographs, the identification and persecution of some of the members? Her losing her job? Her work as a seamstress, but her hating it? Her saving him when he is attacked by the comrades? The affair and its effect on her? Moische's return? Listening to his anti-Soviet speech? Her disillusionment? Going with Stephane, the assignment, the affair, love? Herschel's intervention after her disappearance? Learning to use the camera, her return home? The expulsion from the party? Her finding out that Stephane has gone to Indo-China? Her talk with her mother and listening to the story of her mother's affair? Her future?

7. Moische, on the run, the communist of the '30s? Polish-Jewish? Going to Paris? His disappearance? His return, relationship with Branca, with Herschel? His bitter anti-Stalinist speech? Soviet anti-Semitism? Siberia? His influence on Nadia? His living on in Branca's memory?

8. Herschel, his love for Branca, caring for Nadia? Act of communist? His strictness as a father? The return of Moische? His uneasiness? Nadia and the affair? Her disappearance? The discussions with the police? Pressing charges of rape? His future?

9. Stephane, the young photographer, attracted by Nadia, photographing the demonstration, photographing her face? Their discussions, attraction? His hearing her exaggerate and exposing her? The jazz club? Her criticisms of his friends? The reaction to the photos in Paris Match? The vengeance of the communists on Stephane for the harassment? The affair? The love affair? The three-week photo assignment? Their lives together? The prosecution - and Stephane's option to go to Indo-China? Serving with the paratroopers - his future?

10. The retrospect on the enthusiasm of communists in the '30s, their hopes in Moscow and Stalin? The experience of the '40s - and the significance of Moische's speech? The disillusionment in the '50s, the truth about Stalinism? The changes in communism?

11. A portrait of France in the period, anti-communist? Internal problems? Right and Left? The involvement in Indo-China? - and the consequences for the war of the '60s?

12. The blend of political themes with human themes?