Marquis De Sade’s Justine. A Film By Jess Franco

Who wants to watch another movie about The Marquis De Sade? ‘What? No, you cry?’, what about a movie about The Marquis De Sade from Jess Franco, director of such magnificent work as 99 Women, Barbed Wire Dolls, The Erotic Rites Of Frankenstein, The Awful Dr Orloff and Venus In Furs? ‘Hell yeah, I hear you say?’, then come with me into this dimly lit cottage and we shall discuss it further.

One of the most interesting things about De Sade, aside from his deviant peculiarities, are his philosophies on life, which he wrote about extensively in amongst all the smut. Both the artistic and philosophical worlds resurrected an allegiance with him several centuries after his death, praising his ethics on personal freedom and some even cited him as an early pioneer of existentialist thinking. The freedom that De Sade triumphed (or at least attempted to) was to run around eighteenth century France sticking his willy into anything that it would come into contact with. When he wasn’t putting himself into other things, he liked to capture and torture local prostitutes and servant girls for extended periods of time. If we were to take our life lessons from someone, well, he’s no Dr Phil, that’s all I’m saying.

This is an adaptation of one of De Sade’s earlier works, Justine (or The Misfortunes of Virtue) and as far as cinematic interpretations go, it remains faithful, if slightly toned down. Jess Franco has always been a master at the artfully erotic and this example is no exception. The scenes of depravity are balanced well with the crafted lighting (preferring the same primary colour washes as Argento frequently uses) and soft focus shots.

The film opens with De Sade (Played by the amazing Klaus Kinski) in prison, suffering wild hallucinations of tortured women. This differs from the novel, as in that in its original form, Justine is telling her story as she awaits the gallows. The story then cuts to a Nunnery, where sisters Justine and Juliette have lived for several years. They receive news of their father’s death and are cast out onto the streets of Paris with a few coins in their pocket. They arrange shelter but their lodgings transpire to be a brothel and Justine is repelled at the thought. Juliette decides that she is able for the life and stays, soon making allegiances and pathing the way to a life of misadventure and vice. It is not long before Justine finds herself robbed and at the mercy of strangers, all of whom try and take advantage of her. People seem drawn in by her virtue and innocence, baying to corrupt her.

She is falsely accused, embroiled in murder plots, kidnapped, imprisoned, tortured and finally, seeking refuge in a monastery, taken captive by a psychotic group of monks (very similar to the quartet of deviants in Salo). The brothers, lead by a terrifying Jack Palance (in a little seen slice of spectacular demonic possession). Along the way, it is the authority figures who offer the bitterest betrayals of trust, thus shadowing Sade’s own views on authoritarianism. For a man who was locked up for over thirteen years of his life will most definitely have something to say on the subject.

All the while, Justine’s virginal demeanor and innocence land her in nothing but trouble, whilst her whoring, conniving, murdering sister Juliette is now scaling the heights of high society. This is as deep as the philosophical elements go really, that sometimes it is pleasure and self satisfaction that are what truly matters in life.

This 1968 movie is quintessential Euro Sleaze, but the softer handling of the subject material adds extra poignancy. There are subplots of female empowerment, perversion of power and the strength that exists within revenge. Remarkably enjoyable and a good gateway for anyone who plans to make a start on the written works of the infamous Marquis, this comes highly recommended.

I have also just finished the book and if you are interested, there is a public domain version available HERE.

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