Recently, a number of films with the great French actress Isabelle Adjani has been released again. Adjani is the rare kind of actress who has demonstrated that ability and beauty can fit so well together. Other than possessing a great look that anyone will never forget, Adjani has demonstrated tremendous talent through her performance, in particular very psychologically driven characters. Be it Camille Claudel, Adele Hugo, or Queen Margot, an Adjani character will leave a lasting impression in the audience's memory, due to her judicious choice of choosing roles and her intense drive and focus as an actress. As the only actress who has ever received 5 Cesar Awards, Adjani has an impressive portfolio that anyone who is passionate in cinema should go after. Yet, her most iconic performance is probably in a cult film , which is also very well known from mainstream audience - Possession (1981) !
Possession is a film full of surprise. While the film is certainly intended for arthouse cinema, it has achieved a cult status among mainstream audience. While the film appears to be a horror film, it is a cerebral film , and very rarely a performance from a horror film Adjani's memorable performance has been recognized by Cannes festival and other award for art films. I personally do not find Possession scary, though there are some genuinely gross out and disturbing moments, and the film has been banned in certain countries for 20 years ! Possession is the introduction to the cinema of Isabelle Adjani - once you are 'possessed' by this cult classic, you will find yourself in an obsession with Adjani's gift for acting and watch her films one after and another !
The name of the film has two layers of related meanings. From the context of the film, it means possessed by the evil. Yet, we can also understand the meaning in a more common meaning of the word - that of ownership. The tragic consequence is due to the fatc that the two main characters see each other as a 'possession'- with an obsession and desire to 'own' the other and control the other. Obsession is different from love, because love is based on respect and a consideration of the other's feelings, while obsession is more one-sided and merely served to fuel one's desire for control and satisfaction. Even the plot of a satanic intervention can provide much sensation and macabre for the story, I feel that it is the psychological aspect of the story that makes it terrifying...
(To be continued)
by Ed Law
Film Analysis
