There are few filmmakers that can match Francois Ozon for versatility or for sheer volume of output. The acclaimed French helmer has made 16 films in his 20-year career, and his latest “L’Amant Double,” will be his eighth movie in ten years, arriving barely six months after his last film, “Frantz,” screened in theaters. Ozon has many modes — he’s recently made comedy-of-manners with “Potiche,” “Belle Du Jour”-style character study with “Young & Beautiful,” transgender comedy-drama with “The New Girlfriend,” and period romance with “Frantz,” but his latest sees him return to the sexy-thriller territory of some of his best movies, like 2003’s “Swimming Pool.”
Set to premiere in competition at Cannes in a few weeks, “L’Amant Double,” reteams Ozon with two previous stars: Dardennes favorite Jeremie Renier (“Potiche”), and “Young & Beautiful” lead Marine Vacth, with Jacqueline Bisset also in the cast. Vacth plays Chloe, a young woman who begins a relationship with an older man, only to discover that he’s hidden parts of his life from her, with potentially deadly results.
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It looks sort of pleasingly trashy in a De Palme-ish way, but we’re sure Ozon will bring his usual class and intelligence to proceedings. You can get a good look at the film below in the first full trailer (NSFW for some nudity — this is a French film, guys): there are no subtitles to it, but why not guess the dialogue? Check back in about three weeks for our verdict on the film.
