Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer Details

[Highly rated reviewer]

Compelling viewing, despite the surreal climax

I knew nothing about this film, and hadn't heard of the book. But it draws you in right from the beginning, with a narrated tale about a young orphan born in France 300 years ago who turns out to have an uncanny ability with his nose.

This orphan survives the school of hard knocks and grimy tanneries, but accidentally develops an ability for killing people, and puts it to good use in a quest to preserve 'beauty', namely the scent of beautiful women, forever after they die.

The climax of the film didn't make sense to me at the time, and rather seemed to destroy my faith in the film, tho it is an *unbelievable* bit of film making (with many v brave extras!). However, there is a simple explanation which came to me as soon as I left the cinema.

There are numerous details to salivate (sic) over, not least how compelling a film about smell can be. The atmospheric imagery is wonderful. And seeing a film set in historic France, but in English and cast entirely (?) with familiar faces, is neat. Best of all, and not for the first time, Alan Rickman steals the show as the aristocratic father of the ultimate beauty in the killer's town. He delivers the best line of the film in the way that only he can. Only Dustin Hoffman disappoints.

Something different

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one - Hannibal meets Dangerous Liaisons perhaps? Ultimately that wasn't far off - a sublimely different movie during which you often find yourself feeling sorry for the protagonist. Worth watching because of the good pace, unexpected twists, and the execution scene (no that isn't a spoiler) - class!