José Pinheiro
Mon Bel Amour Ma Déchirure

THE REVIEW

A thin plot already explored by other directors. The usual story presents us with a "learned" and haughty woman but with the vice of having relationships, even carnal ones, with a guy who, on the contrary, is a perfect ignoramus and a vulgar ex-con.

The director José Pinheiro, before seeing this film, was a perfect stranger to me.

And "Mon Bel Amour - Ma Déchirure," believe me, certainly didn't encourage me to delve deeper into his filmography.

In short, you may have already guessed, we're talking about a totally negligible 1980s erotic film, as well as a rather poor acting performance.

Her: Catherine Wilkening. Later the protagonist of other and more famous films.

Him: Stéphane Ferrara. Professional boxer and actor. Known for playing the role of Rocco, the protector of the titular protagonist of "Paprika" (Tinto Brass)

It is mentioned in the closing credits that the French Ministry of Culture even funded this dud.

So why am I telling you about it? Because it reminds me of my adolescence, when I stole a cassette of "I Classici Proibiti" published by L'Espresso and watched it with the usual anxiety of someone whose age-related testosterone was sky-high.

But there is not much exciting about "Mon Bel Amour - Ma Déchirure." The sick story that develops between two such dissimilar characters brings Catherine and Patrick, this being the name given to the character played by good Ferrara, into a murky spiral of hurriedly consummated flings, fights, slaps, insults, and then, inevitably, the usual and unhealthy desire to get back together.

In the end, Patrick can no longer bear such an emotional burden. He invites Catherine into the car and, improvising as a theater actor, imitates a wild Geronimo. Right when he's behind the wheel.

The ending is rather predictable. Only the beautiful and educated young lady is saved.

The soundtrack includes tracks by Fra Lippo Lippi, Cutting Crew, Jack Edwards, and others by composer Romano Mussumara. The song "Catherine" is beautiful, really! But it's not enough to save a woeful and terribly predictable film.

For me, a memory of times gone by. For you, at most, a film to watch in moments of boredom, perhaps to laugh at some ludicrous ploy.

A real shame. The fifteen-year-old who stole that videotape found no worthwhile example of cinematic eroticism. Fortunately, years later, he discovered far more honest and imaginative directors.