Search - The School of Flesh on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Adult Language Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 12/07/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: French Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 42 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Members Wishing: 12 Genres: Drama, Romantic Drama, Psychological Drama, Erotic Drama, Melodrama

Benoit Jacquot directed this French drama about an older woman and a younger man, adapted from the novel by Yukio Mishima. When career woman Dominique (Isabelle Huppert) goes out to a nightclub one evening, her attraction to bartender Quentin (Vincent Martinez) is observed by cross-dressing Chris (Vincent Lindon), who approaches her and supplies inside dope on Quentin, leaving her intrigued. Although Dominique and Quentin travel in radically different spheres of income, class, politics, and education, these barriers recede into the background as sexual passion overcomes the couple. Shown in competition at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Isabelle Huppert - Dominique
Vincent Martinez - Quentin
Vincent Lindon - Chris
Marthe Keller - Laurence Thorpe
François Berléand - Soukaz

Benoît Jacquot's School of Flesh works as much as a showcase for the understated acting skills of Isabelle Huppert as it does as an interesting romance. The movie looks quite stunning in a colorful, vibrant 2.35:1 widescreen presentation. Jacquot and cinematographer Caroline Champetier frequently bathe the entire frame in primary colors; a nightclub scene bursts off the screen as if the movie has been filmed in red and black. Unfortunately, the sound is overly tinny, though that might be an issue with the original soundtrack rather than the DVD. The sound quality isn't distracting enough to take one's interest from the movie, but a greater dynamic range would have been most welcome. The movie's sole supplemental feature is a blurb-heavy theatrical trailer, which really isn't worth a look. Judging by the praise heaped on Huppert by the trailer, one would think she had accomplished a great humanitarian feat, rather than simply turned in a quality performance. A "Scene Selections" menu gives immediate access to the DVD's 28 chapters via captions and still frames. Subtitles, available in English and Spanish, are presented in the lower black bar of the letterboxing in easy-to-read yellow text. School of Flesh is an intriguing movie and visually sumptuous on DVD. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Movie Guide