Movie spotlight
Zazel: The Scent of Love
"Zazel" is the title character, a world-famous artist commissioned to create "the most arousing perfume ever". In the course of devising this scent, Zazel variously paints pictures, views photographs, and wanders among the flowers of her garden, each experience inspiring her to envision a powerful sexual fantasy. The film consists of nearly a dozen individually themed sequences which reference and recreate iconography drawn from mythology, religion, literature, film and even Jungian psychology. These include sirens, water nymphs, mermaids, flowers, the jungle, The Three Musketeers, classic old Hollywood movies, angels and demons, and the Jungian duality of male and female.
Insights
Plot Summary
Agnes, a lonely and eccentric woman, finds solace in her collection of rare perfumes. Her quiet life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes captivated by a charming bookseller, Arthur. As their relationship blossoms, Agnes must confront her past and her own insecurities, all while navigating the delicate scent of new love.
Critical Reception
The film received a mixed to positive reception. Critics praised its quirky charm and Sarah Miles's nuanced performance, though some found the plot to be a bit predictable and slow-paced.
What Reviewers Say
Sarah Miles delivers a captivating performance as the eccentric protagonist.
The film's gentle humor and romantic undertones were appreciated.
Some viewers found the narrative pacing to be uneven.
Google audience: Audience reviews generally highlight the film's unique premise and Sarah Miles's performance, with many appreciating its quiet charm. Some users found it a bit too slow.
Fun Fact
The film's intricate use of scent as a narrative device was a deliberate choice by director Richard Loncraine to explore memory and emotion.
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