FRANKIE

France, 2005, 88 minutes, Colour.
Diane Kruger, Jennick Gravelines.
Directed by Fabienne Berthaud.

A brief portrait of a young model, her work and the pressures on her for glamour and a career, especially as she grows older. Despite the presence of Diane Kruger as Frankie, the film is not particularly engaging. It is structured in a fragmentary way, moving between different times, especially with many fashion shoot flashbacks, so that it is not always easy to follow. The structure makes us appreciate the fragmentation of Frankie’s life and her attempts to come to terms with the end of her modelling by spending time in an institution.

A number of characters move in and out of the plot, models, friends, photographers, directors (all flattery to the faces of the models and critical behind their backs), psychologists.

Filmed with hand held camera and edited to intensify the fragmentary feel, this is a case study in breakdown.

1.The impact of the drama? Portrait of a model? End of her career? Breakdown?

2.The fashion style of the film? Camerawork? Poses? Set-ups? The musical score?

3.The structure of the film: Frankie, in the fields, the background of her breakdown? The flashbacks to her career, the modelling episodes, the tests? Returning to her discussions with the psychiatrist? The interlocking of these scenes to produce a fragmented portrait?

4.Diane Kruger as Frankie? Her own background as a model? Producing the film? As a successful model, performance? The demands of photographers, of directors? Her age, the interviews, fitting into the dress, the walk for the director – his sweet-talking her and then criticising her behind her back? Her mental collapse, the lack of prospects for a future? Her friendship with Tom? The discussions with the psychiatrist, her not feeling safe enough to leave, in the institution? Her interaction with the other residents? The finale in the fields, feeling safe with Tom?

5.The institution, the range of residents, the old woman and her calling out, the other people in the sessions? The nurses, the psychiatrist, his concern about Frankie, listening to her, reassuring her?

6.The world of modelling, the casting director, the jobs, the photographers?

7.The long sequence with the black director, the dress, directing her walk, affirming her? His criticisms?

8.A glimpse into the world of the fashion model – and the grim prospects for her future?