Weekend at the Movies

One of the best things about New York is that you can see a lot of European movies here throughout the year and for French cinephiles this city is quite generous. This weekend I decided to see the new movie by the director Francois Ozon, “The New Girlfriend”, an adaptation of Ruth Rendell’s short story.

In the times when cross-dressing and trans-gender have becomea major theme in popular culture and fashion, here comes this surprising and subversive take on a man who would love being a woman, while he has a huge responsibility to raise his baby daughter on his own. I do not want to reveal too much but this film will so keep you on the edge of the seat because it shows the struggle of the middle-class man who does not want not to disappoint the social norms of his friends and his parents in law but at the same time he is so craving his freedom to behave and look like a woman.

David, played by the Roman Duris, (my huge on screen crush since since I have seen him first time in “Gadjo Dilo”), secretly transitions into Virginia but his journey would not be the same without a perfect accomplice, his deceased wife’s best friend. There are so many psychological twists and turns and the mood of the movie reminds us of great film noir masters, like Otto Preminger.

Most fascinating aspect of the movie, from the fashion point of view, is Virginia’s style make-over. From just using her mother clothes, to really sexy Veronica Lake-like wigs, dresses and high heels she becomes a fashion pro. It’s impressive how Romain Duris’ character’s fascination with women’s world and their access to pleasures of fashion seems to be so seductive, erotic and sensible at the same time. The actor shared in one of the interviews that the biggest inspiration for playing a woman in a movie for him was the childhood memory of the way he used to play with his sister and she was putting makeup on his face.

The New Girlfriend has it all, drama, suspense, incredible sense of humor, madness and romance. It’s a very unique movie with a perfect timing on the international social agenda. If it is playing in the theaters near you, please do not miss it!

The New Girlfriend by Francois Ozon