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Chri (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Chri' is a 2009 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears from a screenplay by Christopher Hampton, based on the 1920 novel of the same name by French author Colette. It stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Friend. The film premiered at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival.
Plot
Set in 1900s Belle poque Paris, 'Chri' tells the story of an affair between a wealthy, middle-aged retired courtesan, La, and Fred, nicknamed Cheri ("Dear" or "Darling"), the flamboyant spoiled, neglected 19-year-old only son of another even wealthier courtesan. A famous beauty, La has been successful at extracting large sums of money from her up-scale clients, never falling in love with any of them.
At first La takes Chri off her "friend" (and former rival) Charlotte's hands as a favor, as his dissipated lifestyle is irritating to Charlotte and unhealthy for Chri. Although La only plans on keeping Chri around for a short while, their affair turns into a six-year relationship, in which La pays for Chri's expenses, (although he has access to considerable wealth from his mother) and Chri wears La's silk pajamas and pearls. Although they satisfy each other both sexually and emotionally, the two convince themselves that their affair is casual, but they are the only real friend the other has. Her status as a former prostitute and his as the son of one make them outsiders who can only be fully honest and relaxed together.
La learns Chri's mother has arranged for Chri to marry the daughter of another courtesan, an innocent barely 18-year-old named Edme, as Charlotte has decided she wants grandchildren, largely to make up for her years of neglecting Chri. Although Chri does not wish to marry Edme, whom he finds boring, he has no choice in the matter, as he stands to inherit a huge fortune from Charlotte. La cheerfully kicks him out of her home, but makes Chri promise to always be gentle and kind with Edme, and to try to give her a good life. After Chri agrees, the two part ways, both putting on an air of breezy unconcern, as much to convince themselves as the rest of the world that their affair had just been for amusement.
La does not attend the wedding, and Chri and Edme leave for their honeymoon. It is only after Chri is on the train to Italy for his honeymoon that both he and La realise they are in love with each other. Chri consummates his marriage with Edme, but their lovemaking is perfunctory, and even though Edme is in love with her husband, Chri can't summon any emotion for her. La visits Charlotte one last time before running off on vacation, making up a story in which she is involved with another suitor, when in fact the only man La beds while on vacation is a young bodybuilder whom she has no feelings for and regards as a one-night stand.
Meanwhile, Edme accuses Chri of not caring about her, and says all he ever does is think of La, "that old woman". While out on the town with a friend, Chri tries opium and cocaine, and on his way back he notices that La's apartment is no longer empty and she has returned home. Comforted by the fact that La has returned, Chri runs home to Edme where he makes love to her properly and kindly, thinking that he can now live in peace with Edme, juggling both women. He sends Charlotte the next day to investigate La's homelife, whereupon La claims she is madly in love with her new "suitor", and Charlotte tells her that Chri and Edme are likewise madly in love and happier than ever. That night, jealous and wanting to confront La about her new suitor, Chri breaks into her home and admits he loves her. They make love with all the pent up passion they have been suppressing for the sake of others, and plan on running away together.
In the morning, however, Chri notices the wrinkles on La's face in the harsh light of day, and she sees his doubt. She apologizes to Chri for "ruining him" and making life too easy on him when they first began their affair. La tells Chri to go back to Edme, for their age difference would always prevent a true relationship blossoming between them. Tentatively, Chri leaves as La watches, breathlessly hoping he will turn back. Both crestfallen and elated by a new sense of freedom, he walks on, as La stares into her mirror at her aging face.
The narrator reflects on the injustice of fate, that La was born two decades before her only true love, Chri. The narrator also reveals that, while he went through World War 1 without a scratch, Chri later realises that La was the only woman he could ever love, and he commits suicide.
Cast
*Michelle Pfeiffer as La de Lonval
*Rupert Friend as Fred 'Chri' Peloux
*Kathy Bates as Madame Charlotte Peloux
*Felicity Jones as Edme
*Frances Tomelty as Rose
*Anita Pallenberg as La Copine
*Harriet Walter as La Loupiote
*Bette Bourne as Baronne
*Tom Burke as Vicomte Desmond
*Iben Hjejle as Marie Laure
*Toby Kebbell as Patron
Release
The film was released theatrically in France on 8 April 2009 by Path Distribution and in the United Kingdom on 8 May 2009 by Path's distribution partner Warner Bros. Entertainment UK, and was the first film released under the then-recent theatrical distribution deal between the two companies.
The film was released on DVD in the UK on 21 September 2009 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. As of 2021, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is currently re-releasing Path's film library in the UK.
Reception
'Chri' was selected for the Berlin Film Festival official competition.
The movie got mixed reviews: 'The Times' of London reviewed the film favourably, describing Hampton's screenplay as a "steady flow of dry quips and acerbic one-liners" and Pfeiffer's performance as "magnetic and subtle, her worldly nonchalance a mask for vulnerability and heartache."
Roger Ebert in the 'Chicago Sun-Times' wrote that it was "fascinating to observe how Pfeiffer controls her face and voice during times of painful hurt."
Kenneth Turan in the 'Los Angeles Times' praised the "wordless scenes that catch La unawares, with the camera alone seeing the despair and regret that she hides from the world. It's the kind of refined, delicate acting Pfeiffer does so well, and it's a further reminder of how much we've missed her since she's been away."
At Rotten Tomatoes it has a 54% or 'Rotten' rating. Much of the criticism centres on its weak script and poorly executed romance scenes.
At Metacritic, it received "generally favorable reviews" based on 27 critic reviews.
References
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