"Charlotte For Ever" is a great example of the way the French like to fetishize suffering. It's a movie about a mopey alcoholic recovering from the accidental death of his wife who seems to be having a great time. He just slouches around his apartment, muttering meaningless pseudo-philosophical dialogue, while apparently seducing teenage girls, including his own daughter.
Or does he? There's no sex in the movie, but it keeps suggesting as much. For example, during a mundane conversation with her old man, young Charlotte takes off her top, unexpectedly, and turns to approach him. End scene.
What happened after the scene ended? Other times we see the old man and Charlotte in bed together, implying sex has either happened or is about to happen, but we never see it.
And what to make of the scene where Gainsbourg's Stan strips his daughter's school-friend and she stands there like a mannequin while he fondles her breast?
I think that Gainsbourg knew the controversial premise would be enough to sell tickets. Incest and paedophilia would be bad enough, but when the father and daughter are related in real life? It worked for the song/music video "Lemon Incest", and here, Gainsbourg repeated the trick.
I just wish he had bothered to make an actual movie with a story, characters, or some kind of point. What we have is just a tedious slog, with a pointlessness that is almost laughable.
Oh, and for the raincoat brigade? There's not really enough nudity here to justify your attention, I don't think. And there's certainly no eroticism.
