➤ CURIOSA, from p.20
together. This leads to the admission,
“I love you enough to share
you with others.” Such morality
should generate some emotional
impact. So too should Marie’s pregnancy
by Pierre. Unfortunately,
these key moments fall fl at — like
much of this handsomely mounted
but lackluster fi lm.
It may just be that Jeunet puts
the emphasis on the wrong syllable.
(Even the music, which is
quite modern, feels out of place.) Her
➤ NONDISCRIMINATION, from p.9
Ways Ministry’s executive director,
said in a written statement. “Catholics
who have studied and refl ected
deeply on this topic agree that
non-discrimination is the most authentic
Catholic position.”
The letter stressed that anti-LGBTQ
statements go against Catholic
Social Teaching, which promotes
equality for all individuals
regardless of their sexual orientation
or gender identity. Pope Francis
endorsed civil unions last year,
focus on the prurient themes feels
quaint where it should feel radical.
Likewise, the fi lm’s feminism,
as indicated by Marie’s agency and
owning of her sexuality, feels muted.
The fi lm’s queer elements also could
have been played up more. (One can
read Henri as closeted, but there is
no indication he was gay).
“Curiosa” feels like a missed opportunity
to showcase risqué sexual
behavior in 19th century France.
That the fi lm portrays real people
but provides little insight into them
is also a drawback. Merlant is absolutely
saying LGBTQ folks are “children
of God” and “have a right to family.”
But earlier this year, he and
the Catholic Church came under
fi re for doubling down on their opposition
of same-sex marriage. In
an explanation approved by Pope
Francis, the Church said God
“does not and cannot bless sin.”
The letter further ripped Catholic
leaders for using homophobia
and transphobia to back their
outdated and discriminatory beliefs.
“The relationship between the
radiant on screen, but she
does not have enough to do, other
than get naked (which for some
viewers, may be enough). Schneider
is rather uninspired as Pierre, a
character more petulant and narcissistic
than a fully developed. It
is hard to see why Marie loves him,
other than for his dashing good
looks. At least Lavernhe is appropriately
stiff in his role as Henri.
The best thing about Jeunet’s
fi lm is its craft. The commitment
to creating all of the photographic
images is impressive. One of the
hierarchy of the Roman Catholic
Church and the community of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender,
and queer (LGBTQ) persons has
long been fraught with tensions,
negative emotions, and confusion,”
the group wrote in a letter. “Harsh
statements from high-ranking
church leaders against LGBTQ
equality initiatives in the civil arena
have often succeeded in limiting
the rights of LGBTQ people,
causing great offense and allowing
great social and personal harm to
befall this marginalized community.”
most interesting scenes has Henri,
Marie, and their baby meeting
Pierre and going to the zoo. When
Pierre takes a photo of Marie and
their child, Henri is asked to step
out of the frame (an obvious metaphor).
But Jeunet shows a series
of images of Henri in stop-motion.
It is a clever and quirky sequence.
One wishes “Curiosa” had more
fi ne moments like this.
CURIOSA | Directed by Lou Jeunet
| Opening in Virtual Cinemas,
on VOD and Digital on August 13 |
Distributed by Film Movement
The group’s calls to support
LGBTQ rights comes during another
year of ongoing anti-trans
legislation in the US, where some
states have passed laws banning
transgender people from participating
on school sports teams and
accessing public bathrooms. In a
press release, New Ways Ministry
said they asked 26 US bishops to
endorse the statement, but only
garnered the support of retired
Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton of
Detroit.
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