Transgender transgressions is the bedrock of this interesting intriguer, close bosom cousin to the films and style of Hitchcock and Almodovar.
Based on a Ruth Rendell novel, THE NEW GIRLFRIEND sounds like a romantic comedy and one might think that this is the ground to be covered in Francois Ozon’s film as it begins with a girl being dressed in her bridal gown. By the end of the montage we discover this is not her wedding day but the day of her funeral.
Laura has left life leaving grieving husband David, infant daughter, Lucie, and childhood chum, Claire. David must now be both father and mother to the girl and a cross dressing desire suppressed during the marriage emerges, triggered by the infant’s malleability to feeding and sleeping surrounded by the scent and appearance of her dear departed mum, an illusion created thanks to a wardrobe full of the deceased’s clothes and male (sic) ordered wigs.
THE NEW GIRLFRIEND is a nifty and entertaining exploration of gender, sexuality and the allure of lingerie.
The durable and endearing Romain Duras stars as the dutiful David finding exquisite expression in the persona of his transgender alter ego, Virginia.
Anais Demoustier is gorgeous as the confused Claire, transferring her childhood chumiosity from her deceased bestie to her frillied and frocked widower – her old girlfriend is gone, but her new girlfriend has the added allure of secrecy and illicit sexuality.
The film maintains a frisky frisson with disguise and discovery, secret desires, risk and ridicule all pitching the momentum into unpredictable narrative. Adultery, abduction even murder could be on the cards as the story progresses to its seven years later conclusion.
The Alliance Francaise French Film Festival runs March 3 – 22 at the Chauvel, Paddington,, Palace Verona, Paddington, Palace Norton Street, Leichardt, and Hayden Orpheum Cremorne.
