Patrice Leconte

[J.D.]

Don't suppose this will create a lot of interest but I've just watched a bunch of movies by French director Patrice Leconte, who has been for some time now my favourite director. Well, he is if Carol Reed isn't. The man has pathos.

Among the ones I watched were:

The Hairdresser's Husband (1990)

Monsieur Hire (1989)

Le Parfum d'Yvonne (1994)

The Girl on the Bridge (1999)

The Hairdresser's Husband is among his best known but my least favourite. Monsieur Hire is a fascinating film about a creepy, lonely guy who watches his neighbour dressing and undressing. He's also suspected of being a murderer (for the record, he isn't). The film centres around the relationship between M. Hire and Alice, his neighbour.

Le Parfume d'Yvonne is probably the most lavishly shot and beautifully photographed of this group. At times it borders on soft porn but it remains both engaging and mysterious. It's a feast, mostly centring on Dutch former supermodel Sandra Majani. Decide for yourself if you like the end. A lot of people don't. The Girl on the Bridge has some of the most gut twisting scenes I know of without actually showing anything nasty. Featuring Daniel Auteuil and Vanessa Paradis, the acting is superb. It's about a circus knife thrower. I'll leave it at that but it has some sensational moments in it and IMHO, they could really only be directed by one person - Leconte himself.

I have since found out that in a past life he was a camera operator and actually operated on the first three listed here.