Flesh Color (1978)

Flesh Color Poster
Original Title: Couleur chair

This film was presented to the Cannes Film Festival in the parallel section in 1978. It is unreleased.

Introduction
"Flesh Color" (originally entitled "Chair de poule") is a 1978 French-Italian mystery thriller film directed by Julien Duvivier and co-written by Duvivier and Thierry Lhermitte. The movie features an ensemble cast that includes Isabelle Huppert, Barbara Bach, Monique Lepagnez, Alan Bates, and Monica Scattini. It is a classic European mental thriller that concentrates on love, desire, fascination, and jealousy.

Plot Synopsis
The story focuses on Paul, a middle-aged male living in the South of France who becomes entangled in a spiral of progressively harmful relationships. After his better half leaves him, he relocates with his good friend George, a wealthy business person, and his strange and deceptive other half, Laura.

Strange things start to occur when the group fulfills. Paul ends up being significantly obsessed with Laura, who appears to be controling him and George in different ways. The plot unfolds as a series of weaves that slowly expose a web of secrets, betrayals, and dark desires.

Laura, a manipulative lady, starts a romantic relationship with Paul, who ends up being progressively consumed with her. As their affair magnifies, Laura exposes her strategy to eliminate her partner, George, in order to inherit his fortune.

Seeing Laura's malicious plot to get rid of George, Paul begins feeling in risk. Fearing that Laura will turn on him next, Paul and George decide to sign up with forces in an attempt to safeguard themselves from her destructive objectives. This unlikely collaboration leads them to reveal a world of dark and hazardous tricks and desires.

Sadly for Paul, he quickly becomes the prime suspect in George's strange death. The cops start investigating, and Paul gets captured in a fragile situation as he has a hard time to decipher the fact and safeguard himself from the genuine killer.

Themes and Analysis
"Flesh Color" explores themes of regret, fascination, desire, and jealousy as the characters are covered in a complicated web of manipulation and deceit. The movie takes a deep dive into the human psyche, showcasing how far one can go to guarantee their darkest desires are fulfilled. The beautiful and extreme Laura signifies a deadly femme fatale who masterminds the dangerous video game of love and deceit.

The cinematography plays a vital role in the movie, creating a visually sensational and mysterious atmosphere that magnifies the thriller and stress throughout the story. Using color and lighting stresses crucial elements of the movie, such as the lovely backdrop of the South of France and the deadly allure of Laura. The striking visuals produce a sense of looming darkness as the characters browse their way through the twisted maze of deception.

Furthermore, the motion picture explores styles of trust, betrayal, and friendship as the characters continuously question whether they can trust one another in this unsafe video game. As Paul struggles in between his commitment to his now deceased pal, George, and his infatuation with the stunning and harmful Laura, he discovers the limits of friendship and love and the sometimes violent consequences of untreated passions.

Reception
"Flesh Color" got combined reviews from critics upon its release. Much of the praise was directed towards the film's trendy direction, captivating storytelling, and strong efficiencies, especially from Isabelle Huppert and Alan Bates. However, some critics discovered the movie to be excessively complicated and criticized the film's various plot twists and turns.

Regardless of its blended reception, "Flesh Color" has since garnered a cult following for its artistic storytelling, spectacular cinematography, and the strength of character relationships. It stays a prominent work within the European mental thriller category, illustrating the threats of dark desires prowling underneath alluring exteriors.

Top Cast

  • Dennis Hopper (small)
    Dennis Hopper
    Mel
  • Veruschka von Lehndorff (small)
    Veruschka von Lehndorff
    Anna
  • Jorge Donn
    Ramon
  • Bianca Jagger (small)
    Bianca Jagger
    Madame Schrijvers
  • Laurent Terzieff (small)
    Laurent Terzieff
    Michel
  • Lou Castel (small)
    Lou Castel
    le psychiatre
  • Anne Wiazemsky (small)
    Anne Wiazemsky