Fantasy (AKA Fantasme) (2009)

Written and Directed by Izabel Grondin
Featuring Felixe Ross, Patrick Lauzon
15 minutes
Review by Maude Michaud

Anyone who’s familiar with the films of Izabel Grondin knows she often tackles disturbing subjects matter. Fantasy, her latest short film, is no exception. The premise is straightforward: a man and a woman meet through an ad to fulfill a particular fantasy. Revealing what that fantasy is would destroy most of the mystery and tension of the first act, so I’ll refrain from doing so. I’ll just say that it involves something that is unpleasant for most of us, women...

From the start, there is an aura of unpleasant sensuality. We know something bad is going to happen, yet our inner voyeur urge compels us to watch as we are granted access to the small room where the two main characters play out their fantasy. There is a strong fetishist tone to the film, but it’s a fetish that is deeply bothersome to most people. The film does walk the thin line between eroticism and death, and that’s exactly where its horror resides.

The main strength of the film is its pacing, which allows the story to slowly unfold in a nightmarish way. The audience might foresee what is about to happen, yet they are forced to experience every single second leading up to it. We become helpless viewers subjected to the suspension of time experienced by the characters, which are impeccably acted.

Grondin manages to tastefully present images that could easily have been exploitative or sensationalistic in the hands of another director. The end result is a polished look with desaturated colors, some beautifully grotesque images, and a brilliant sound design that complements every stylistic decision. Some moments are downright unpleasant and that is what makes the film effective.

I must take a moment to mention that, during a screening here in Montreal, a man fell off his bar stool when the film reached its climax. I kid you not; I saw it with my own two eyes! I can’t mention at which exact moment it happened as I would be spoiling the film, but anyone who has seen it probably has a good idea of what I’m talking about.

In terms of content, what is interesting to look at is the gender representation in the film. Those familiar with Izabel Grondin’s films know that she loves to switch gender roles; there is none of that here. Knowing the film was directed by a woman introduces an interesting level to the story that makes it all the more disturbing and raises more questions than it answers. Even though the fantasy in question is represented as being consensual, we never hear the characters talk about it, which makes us wonder whether every single action was intended or not. The last scene of the film also offers an interesting ambiguity by forcing us to choose whose point of view the film really represents.

Overall I strongly recommend this short film to anyone who is tired of the hack-and-slash, music-video like gorefests that seem to monopolize theatre screens. It’s a movie that is hard to watch as it messes with you on a visceral and psychological level, but it is also a unique filmmaking experience. It doesn’t get easier to watch after repeated viewings, but it does provide a cathartic effect every time. I consider it a great example of quality independent filmmaking and I’m looking forward to see what Izabel Grondin will offer us next. The film is in French, but international viewers shouldn’t worry as the piece is not dialogue heavy and the English subtitles are faithful to the original script.