Trouble Every Day

(2001) dir. Claire Denis
viewed: 06/29/2005

Trouble Every Day is like an “art film” version of an exploitation film, beautifully shot and paced, with some less than clear narrative elements. But it has a horror film’s true gore, in two graphic scenes of sex and cannibalism, added shock value for the art house circuit and even enough to make an impression on those familiar with such violence. It’s a heck of a strange film, in that sense.

I had seen only one of director Claire Denis’s other films, the visually powerful but not so literal adaptation of Herman Melville’s Billy Budd, Beau travail (1999). Her work is quite interesting.

When sexually aroused, the characters of the film lust for blood, feeding on their sexual partners. It is indicated that this is some sort of disease that they are afflicted with due to some scientific experiments in their past. But, as one knows, it’s always metaphorical, even if it wasn’t an art film, but since it’s an art film, there is probably a lot of intention behind it. I guess it’s very Cronenberg-like.

The title of the film strikes me as somewhat funny, like an understatement, but the film isn’t quite so humorous. Maybe that is what it lacks.

All told, a pretty interesting film.