Sleeping Beauty is based on the novel The House of the Sleeping Beauties, by Yasunari Kawabata.
Its a tale of a young woman, who, dressed in very little, waits on and, as the film progresses, eventually sleeps, in a drugged state, with wealthy older men. No sex takes place, the men are only allowed to touch her, a rule outlined and enforced by the upper class madam, who farms the girls out to her prominent clients.
Sleeping Beauty is not an easy film to come to grips with. On the surface the overriding feeling is one of emotional and societal nihilism, expressed through a sexual medium. Delving deeper the real heart of the story would appear to be one of dispossession. The loss of one's self, which leads to nihilistic behavior on the part of its key protagonists.
Lucy, a university student experiences loss of home, family and her best friend.Her world is a cold place, inhibited by people who are indifferent to Lucy and only see her in terms of her "value" to them. Lucy's response to being treated as a commodity, is, to play her would be users at their own game, selling herself to the highest bidder. Lucy uses they money she is paid to create her own shallow, materialistic world. Predictably, however, money does not fill Lucy's emotional void any more than it does the other key protagonists of this film, her wealthy clients.
Lucy's clients are, in their own way, no different to Lucy. Like Lucy money has not freed them from their emotional bonds but has, in fact, bound them more tightly. Money obliges them to follow societal expectations in terms of their family and working lives, leaving them bereft and empty. Their attempts to escape their personal dispossession, play out in the perversely erotic fantasy world they share with Lucy.
In terms of acting and directing, this is a polished film. The quality of acting, in particular, is of a very high standard.The overall direction of the film is well managed too but the atmosphere of impersonal coldness that inhibits the film is overplayed. As a consequence, its very hard to empathize with Lucy, even though, intellectually, you know you should. The moments of humanity and warmth are simply far too few.
In summary, I would say Sleeping Beauty is certainly a quality film. That said, its not a great film. Its too clinical in its treatment of the subject matter, leaving the viewer numbed by the experience. Its an unwelcome departure from the book, which handles the subject matter with more humanity. Nonetheless a good effort and a worthwhile watch. Seven out of ten from me.
Its a tale of a young woman, who, dressed in very little, waits on and, as the film progresses, eventually sleeps, in a drugged state, with wealthy older men. No sex takes place, the men are only allowed to touch her, a rule outlined and enforced by the upper class madam, who farms the girls out to her prominent clients.
Sleeping Beauty is not an easy film to come to grips with. On the surface the overriding feeling is one of emotional and societal nihilism, expressed through a sexual medium. Delving deeper the real heart of the story would appear to be one of dispossession. The loss of one's self, which leads to nihilistic behavior on the part of its key protagonists.
Lucy, a university student experiences loss of home, family and her best friend.Her world is a cold place, inhibited by people who are indifferent to Lucy and only see her in terms of her "value" to them. Lucy's response to being treated as a commodity, is, to play her would be users at their own game, selling herself to the highest bidder. Lucy uses they money she is paid to create her own shallow, materialistic world. Predictably, however, money does not fill Lucy's emotional void any more than it does the other key protagonists of this film, her wealthy clients.
Lucy's clients are, in their own way, no different to Lucy. Like Lucy money has not freed them from their emotional bonds but has, in fact, bound them more tightly. Money obliges them to follow societal expectations in terms of their family and working lives, leaving them bereft and empty. Their attempts to escape their personal dispossession, play out in the perversely erotic fantasy world they share with Lucy.
In terms of acting and directing, this is a polished film. The quality of acting, in particular, is of a very high standard.The overall direction of the film is well managed too but the atmosphere of impersonal coldness that inhibits the film is overplayed. As a consequence, its very hard to empathize with Lucy, even though, intellectually, you know you should. The moments of humanity and warmth are simply far too few.
In summary, I would say Sleeping Beauty is certainly a quality film. That said, its not a great film. Its too clinical in its treatment of the subject matter, leaving the viewer numbed by the experience. Its an unwelcome departure from the book, which handles the subject matter with more humanity. Nonetheless a good effort and a worthwhile watch. Seven out of ten from me.