CHLOE
Canada, 2009, 96 minutes, Colour.
Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Max Thieriot, R.H. Thomson.
Directed by Atom Egoyan.
A film about adult issues designed for a thoughtful audience.
Chloe is based on Anne Fontaine's French film of 2004 with Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Beart and Gerard Depardieu. This time the wife is played by Julianne Moore, the prostitute, Chloe, by Amanda Seyfield and the husband by Liam Neeson. A very strong cast and strong performances.
Catherine (Moore) and David (Neeson) have been married for 20 years but each has become involved in their professional life, she a gynaecologist, he an arts lecturer, that they have grown used to each other and take each other for granted. When Catherine suspects David of having an affair, she pays for Chloe to make advances to David and report back to her. As always, events do not follow expected paths and people distort the truth, fantasise and are seduced by desires they were not aware of.
Director Atom Egoyan usually writes his own screenplays (Ararat, Adoration) but did not write this one. It is more straightforward than his usual films even though Chloe's reports and behaviour need our constant evaluation. At times, the film is quite explicit in its presentation of the relationships bringing forcefully to audience awareness the strange attractions and the moral dilemmas the characters, especially Catherine, find themselves in - and the mature response the film demands from its audience.
1. A drama, marriage and sexuality, prostitution, psychological drama? Psychosexuality?
2. The remake of a French film – adaptation to Toronto?
3. Toronto, the city as a character, homes, workplaces, restaurants, concert halls, lecture rooms? The realism? The musical score?
4. The growing surrealism of the story, Catherine’s world, Catherine losing her grip, her perspective on David, Chloe and her world, her fantasies? David and Catherine as fantasy objects? Max as a fantasy object?
5. Catherine and her age, gynaecologist, her skill with her work, her interactions with her clients? The emphasis on sexuality, birth? At home, her relationship with Max and his offhandedness, the difficult teenager? Her relationship with David? Their working, getting used to each other over the years, being away for their work, the phone calls, the distance between them? The effect on Catherine, her sense of identity, ageing, as a woman and wife, sexuality? Open to change and experimentation?
6. David and his charm, strong personality, in class with the students, at dinner with Catherine, seeing Chloe? The students, affairs or not? The audience perceiving him with Catherine’s eyes? The lies?
7. The dinner, Chloe and her client, Catherine’s comments, going to the ladies’ room, the accident, the encounter, Catherine helping? The idea of spying on David? Contacting Chloe, the contract, her reporting?
8. Chloe and her age, behaviour, callgirl? Her attitude? Her manner, clothes, clients? Her discussions with Catherine, agreeing to the contract?
9. Meeting with David, the rendezvous, the meals, the hotel room, the sexual encounter, mementoes? Her reporting this to Catherine? The irony that she was making it all up? The attempt to kiss Catherine, her refusal?
10. Max, adolescent, distant, his girlfriend at home, his mother’s disapproval, his music, the recital?
11. David at the recital, flirting? Catherine’s reaction? With Chloe, the report, the encounter, the effect? The phone call next day and urging the relationship to stop?
12. The build-up to the clash with David, the revelation of the truth?
13. The photos, Chloe and blackmail, payment, Chloe and her lack of relationships?
14. Chloe, coming to the house, learning about Michael? Catherine’s drastic confrontation?
15. David, his reaction to Chloe, the audience seeing the truth about him?
16. Chloe at home, the relationship with Max, the fight, the clash with Chloe and her falling to her death? Melodramatic or too melodramatic for this film? Catherine keeping the hair clasp?
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17. A heightened psychosexual case study?
