CHERI
UK, 2009, 100 minutes, Colour.
Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathy Bates, Rupert Friend, Felicity Jones, Frances Tomolty, Anita Pallenberg, Harriett Walter, Iben Hjejle.
Directed by Stephen Freers.
Sumptuous to look at, the beginning of the 20th century and La Belle Epoque in France, beautifully melancholic score by Alexander Desplats, articulate dialogue from Christopher Hampton, adapting a novel by Colette, and directed by Stephen Frears, who could ask for anything more? Well, we could.
So much cinematic effort put into a not dangerous liaisons plot but frivolous liaisons, the affairs of the narcissistic, seductive extortions of so much money from decadent playboys, the world of the glamorous French courtesans.
Maybe that is a touch puritanical, maybe more than a touch, but to spend time with these characters seems something of a waste.
Cheri is a welcome star vehicle for Michelle Pfeiffer (who starred 20 years earlier in Frears' Dangerous Liaisons) who brings beauty and vivacity to her role of the ageing courtesan, Lea, although she seems too nice to be as mercenary as the plot wants her to be. On the other hand, Kathy Bates does her typical good stuff and is more credible as the prostitute mother of Cheri, a nickname for her son, Fred, a pampered, effete young man who finds true love with Leah but who has to enter an arranged marriage. As Cheri, Rupert Friend (so much better as Prince Albert in The Young Victoria) seems, as Ronald Searle used to write, 'a wet and a weed', something of an aspiring Rupert Everett but not nearly as effective. He seems to be reciting many of his lines, especially in the final encounter with Lea, rather than acting.
And Frears borrows from himself (self-referential) with an ending where Michelle Pfeiffer (as Glenn Close did before her) gazes into a mirror.
There seems very little redemption for these characters – at least, in this life, though Lea's speech suggests something. But the final voiceover, spoken throughout the film by Frears himself, is simply despairing.
1.A sumptuous-looking film? La Belle Epoch? Manners, morals – and an amoral world?
2.The work of Collette, memoirs, the French perspective, the moral assumptions about La Belle Epoch and courtesans?
3.The beginning of the 20th century, before World War One, costumes, lavish décor, homes, cars, the city of Paris, the countryside, the coast? The musical score?
4.The credits and the visuals of the courtesans’ world, the individuals, their photos, careers, sexuality, mercenary achievement, lives of luxury, yet time passing, age and illness, death?
5.The voice-over by Stephen Freers, its tone, narrating the story, passing judgment on the characters and situations?
6.The title, the focus on Cheri, his real name being Fred? His age, the background with his mother, the woman’s perspective on the young male?
7.Leah, Michelle Pfeiffer, her age and beauty, Leah’s career, wealth? Rose as her confidante? Her needs, her meeting with Madame Peloux, their talk, knowing Cheri since he was a boy, listening to his mother, his mother wanting her help, the set-up? Her seductive manner, her charm, his response, their beginning to live together, sharing everything, six years? The love for each, the life and style, the ordinary background, the bickering? Going to the sea? Seen in Paris?
8.Cheri, the description, his age as a young man, his negligent relationship with his mother, despising her, his quips? His growing up in debauchery, an effete manner, world-weary in his outlook, the liaison with Leah, the years and its effect on him?
9.Madame Peloux, her own career, wealthy but on the outskirts of society? The arranged marriage, announcing it to Leah, Leah’s upset at not hearing it from Cheri? The courtesan and her daughter? Mercenary, arranging the wedding, rushing away? The church ceremony, the exchange of rings? The honeymoon, the travel, the hotel? Edme and her mother, her response to Fred? Preferring to call him Fred? Talking, trying to understand the place of Leah, trying to understand his questions?
10.Leah and the aftermath, looking for someone else, the boxer, the relationship? Her buying the emerald ring and pretending it was from someone else? Her talking things over with Rose, Rose’s response, a pampered life? Her aims in life, especially as she grew older?
11.Fred, the marriage, his disappearance and return, visiting Leah, relationship with her, her love?
12.Leah’s final speech, a perspective and amoral tone, her relationship impeding his maturity, his not growing up?
13.Fred, his response to her speech, the effect on him, leaving, walking up the street, not turning back?
14.The voice-over commentary about World War One, his understanding himself as he fought in the war, experienced death, killing himself? The nihilistic perspective at the end?
15.A moral and amoral world – fascinating for the audience, but an immersion in a beautiful and elegant world of decadence?
