L’ECOLE DE LA CHAIR/ SCHOOL OF FLESH

France, 1998, 110 minutes, Colour.
Isabelle Huppert, Vincent Martinez, Vincent Lindon, Marthe Keller, François Berleand, Daniele Dubroux, Bernard Le Coq, Roxane Mesquida, Jean- Louis Richard, Jean- Claude Dauphin, Michelle Goddet.
Directed by Benoit Jacquot.

This is a provocative title. The film is based on the writings of Japanese personality, Yukio Mishima. Mishima was a famous writer, leader in martial arts, organiser of groups, right-wing stances – and his eventual suicide. Paul Schrader made a film about the writer: Mishima. There have been versions of his writings including The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea.

The action is transferred from Japan to France. With the title, there is a question as to which of the central characters it applies. Firstly there is Dominique, yet another intense and persuasive performance by Isabelle Huppert (who was to work with the director, Benoit Jacquot, 20 years later in Eva). She is a middle-aged divorcee, bored with life, doing PR work, enjoying nightlife with a friend. At a suspicious club, she encounters Chris, a man who has decided to become a woman, and frequents the club, having some kind of hold over the young hustler, Quentin. (Chris is played in quite an uncharacteristic way by Vincent Lindon.). Quentin, Vincent Martinez, is young, with some kind of Arab background, a young hustler at the club.

The hustler has been in relationships, especially with a lawyer, played by François Berleand. Quentin is wilful in his relationships and rejections. But, Dominique is attracted, signs a contract with the lawyer and gives him a cheque so that she has full rights to Quentin (not telling him). He moves in with her, there is an intense relationship, affecting her more deeply than it does Quentin who still desires his freedom and to move around, even to hustle.

Also in the picture is a wealthy couple, the Thorpes, with Mrs Thorpe played by Marthe Keller. Eventually, Quentin is attracted to her daughter, Marine, and is engaged to her. There are quite some emotional repercussions for Dominique.

The end of the film, taking place some years later, is rather surprising. Dominique is still herself, standing by a car at the kerb and encountering Quentin whom she has not seen for some years and who is now married and has a young daughter.

1. The title? For Quentin? The Dominique?

2. An adaptation of the Japanese novel? The ethos of Mishima as a writer, martial arts, right-wing, social? His suicide? Adaptation of his themes to France?

3. The cast, the work of the director?

4. Paris, the gym and the boxing, the world of photography, modelling? Apartments and the range of homes? Restaurants? The streets and hustling? Offices? The sequences in Morocco, the touristic aspects, the hotels, the rooms? The musical score?

5. Quentin’s story, the opening with the boxing, his friends? Some coaching? The concern about his brother and his disability? His mother and her work? Hustler, questions of his orientation, bisexual behaviour? The patronage of Soukaz? Breaking with him? Spurning him in the restaurant? His work in the bar, Chris and the friendship and patronage? His dependence? Issues of money? The encounter with Dominique, her friend, meal, the attraction? Her return, the sexual encounter? His moving in with her, the rules, his freedom, the better clothes, modelling for photography? The party, meeting the Thorpes, Marine? The psychological effect of his life? Going out to hustling the streets? The money? The encounter with Soukaz? The attraction to Marine, the engagement, keeping it a secret from Dominique? The arrangement to go to Morocco, his behaviour there, with the Thorpes? At the apartment, David’s presence? The going to the Japanese restaurant, with Marine? David and his reaction? Dominique wanting him to, his sitting on the floor, sitting to stay? His finally leaving?

6. Dominique, her life, the failure of her marriage, age, bored, outings with her friend and discussions with her? The work, photography, PR? The memories of her father, meeting his friends and their praising her? The continued boredom, the attraction to Quentin, the initial encounter, the encounter with Chris? Her return? Their walking, talking, the sexual encounter? Her going to see Soukaz, the discussions, the contract, the cheque? Quentin not knowing, the setup, its effect on him, on her? Her being intense, the film focusing on her face, interior reactions? At home, the meals, going out? The visit to Morocco, her being upset with the Thorpes, wanting to return, staying? With Mrs Thorpe, the dresses and advice, Marine and her engagement? Her happiness with Quentin? Yet the edge, the changes, rescuing him from the hustling? The further discussions with Soukaz? His warning her that Quentin did not like being abandoned? The friendship with David, the discussions, the meal, his staying the night? Quentin’s reaction? The meal, her discovery that Quentin was engaged to Marine after helping her with the dress? The discussions with Mrs Thorpe, the feelings, anger? Her having to let go?

7. Her friend, going out, the socials, the parties, opinions, men?

8. Soukaz, his professional life, the meeting with Quentin, living with him, the breakup, the discussions with Dominique?

9. The Thorpe family, rich, industrialist, the wife, her husband and the issue of bisexuality, men, women? Marine, young, engaged to Quentin, the outings with him, the Japanese meal, the eventual break?

10. David, his role in Dominique’s life, the affair, staying the night then leaving, the meal at the restaurant?

11. Quentin, his mother, Dominique going to see her and her serving food? Home, with the brother?

12. The aftermath? Dominique, the car, waiting at the curb? Quentin arriving with his daughter, his affection for her? Their final discussions, his leaving – and his future?