HECATE

Switzerland, 1982, 105 minutes, Colour.
Lauren Hutton, Jean Bouise, Bernard Girardeau.
Directed by Daniel Schmid.

Hecate is a 20th century version of the old Greek myth about the Goddess of the Crossroads - who has more than a touch of the bewitcher.

This is a Swiss production, lavishly mounted. It stars American model/ actress Lauren Hutton. It looks at the period before World War Two, the provinces and the effect of African outposts on an ambitious young diplomat, his infatuation with a beguiling woman. The film shows the origins of World War Two and the effect of the war situation on each of them. The film is slow moving, a study in period as well as of characters - and the bizarre effects of environment on behaviour.

This Swiss production was written and directed by Daniel Vigne who achieved some prominence with his documentary drama Tosca's Kiss and The Return of Martin Guerre.

1. A story of passion, memories, myth and reality?

2. Swiss production: the re-creation of period, North Africa and locations, the Siberian war situation? The audience immersed in these worlds? Feeling and atmosphere? The inserts and the sepia tones, the archival material? The score and its range - accompaniment, classics, contemporary songs?

3. The title of the film, the background of the goddess, her various faces, death and the crossroads, her dogs and their devouring wayfarers, her children? The applications to Clothilde - goddess, death (of sex), passion, devouring?

4. The framework of the screenplay and the Berne setting: neutral Switzerland in World War Two, society and elegance, the experience of the war? Julien's position? The audience returning to this setting at the end - understanding Julien in his origins, experiences to this point? The encounter with Clothilde? Memories - and leaving?

5. Julien and his return, the ambassador's language sending him back to the past? The voice-over, the confession. the search, exploration?

6. Julien in himself: his ambitions, arrival in Africa, the diplomatic post, Africa in the '20s and '30s, the atmosphere of the period, locations, the heat, the Foreign Legion, the Arabs? The Europeans trying to make something of Europe in this setting? The physical and psychological isolation, susceptibility?

7. His being aloof, not enough to do? The routine of the Consulate? His social ambitions, party, mistress? The encounter with Mallard? His turning up at various occasions, the black sheep (a prospect)? The fascination with Clothilde, her allure and charm, the meeting, dance, passion? The bond between them? The nature of her hold on him? His susceptibility and surrender? The sequences of passion - their range, visual impact. Music, editing? The audience sharing his experience with him? Joy, being tantalised, leading where? Her husband and his story? His disappearance? Jealousy, neglect, his being absorbed, obsessed, search, the experience of squalor, the boy, the confrontation, anger, the rape, his cleansing himself in the water? His dreams - the husband, the ageing Hecate? The consequences?

8. His moving from Africa, the breaking of his relationship with Clothilde, vows, the return? The overview of his experience? The visit to Siberia the husband in a trance? The return to Berne? His discovery of the nature of his quest, the search for Clothilde's husband, finding him?

9. Lauren Hutton's glamour and fascination as Clothilde? American, French experience, in Africa, her beauty, spoilt, wilful, sensuous? Her attraction for Julien? Her husband, passion, ups and downs, the mystery? Her vanishing and his breaking? The breaking of the spell? Her being Hecate to Julien?

10. The Consul and appearance, care, warmth? The secretary at the Consulate and her concern?

11. The enigmatic figure of Mallard? His place in society, victim, outsider - mirror image for Julien?

12. The significance of the boy, relationship, guide, victim?

13. The world of Africa - real/timeless? The African city with its sordidness, vice, prostitution? The background of the French Legionnaries and their behaviour? Echoes of Rimbaud's 'Season in Hell'?

14. Themes of obsession, relationships, sexuality, passion, guilt and shame, destruction? Consequences?