best film: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. There are really three candidates here. There is The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Repulsion (an often-overlooked Polanski masterpiece) and Dancer in the Dark (where Deneuve is in support of course). All three films land between 100-200 on the all-time list- with Demy’s masterpiece at the top. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is visually spectacular—a flood of color and a prime contender for the strongest compositions of the films from the French New Wave.
though not her debut, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg finds a 21-year old Catherine Deneuve in her first archiveable film- front and center in one of the pillars of the French New Wave
best performance: Repulsion. It is a three-horse race here as well substituting Belle de Jour here for Dancer in the Dark. Deneuve’s hauntingly vacant performance in Polanski’s claustrophobic horror film edges out the others. It is unsettling how good she is—one of those performances that that changes the conversation on what a good performance is (she hardly speaks). Certainly, Polanski deserves credit for Repulsion’s atmosphere- but Deneuve proved herself to be quite the virtuoso talent and a worthy collaborator.
Repulsion- Deneuve’s bizarre, yet spectacular performance- a brave choice for a budding movie star
stylistic innovations/traits: Catherine Deneuve is one of the seminal acting figures of the French New Wave (with great works that included films with Bunuel and Polanski as well). Deneuve is almost always playing a chilly beauty – but rarely just a dumb blonde. Her minimal, subtle acting style helps to give her characters subtext and that is a tribute to her skills as an actor. Deneuve had a ridiculous string of superior work in the 1960s (same as Anna Karina and Jeanne Moreau) but Deneuve has had a greater lasting power including eight (8) archiveable films from 1997 on. Deneuve has eighteen (18) archiveable films total—certainly a high number in her favor. She worked with both Demy and Truffaut (two major figures in the New Wave).
Deneuve taking risks- here with Bunuel in Belle de Jour
directors worked with: Jacques Demy (3) and it is hard to think of his work and not picture Deneuve. Luis Bunuel (2) from his rich French period, François Truffaut (2), Raul Ruiz (2) and Arnaud Desplechin (2) —taking her into the 21st century. One archiveable film a piece with Jean-Pierre Melville, Leos Carax, Lars von Trier and Roman Polanski.
The Young Girls of Rochefort– Deneuve’s trademark icy stare
top ten performances:
- Repulsion
- The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
- Belle de Jour
- Mississippi Mermaid
- The Young Girls of Rochefort
- The Last Metro
- Tristana
- Un Flic
- A Christmas Tale
- Pola X
Deneuve in Mississippi Mermaid opposite Jean-Paul Belmondo under the direction of Truffaut
archiveable films
| 1964- The Umbrellas of Cherbourg |
| 1965- Repulsion |
| 1967- Belle de Jour |
| 1967- The Young Girls of Rochefort |
| 1969- Mississippi Mermaid |
| 1970- Donkey Skin |
| 1970- Tristana |
| 1972- Un Flic |
| 1980- The Last Metro |
| 1983- The Hunger |
| 1997-Genealogies of a Crime |
| 1999- Pola X |
| 1999- Time Regained |
| 2000- Dancer in the Dark |
| 2001- I’m Going Home |
| 2002- 8 Women |
| 2004- Kings and Queen |
| 2008- A Christmas Tale |
She gives a very strong performance in The Last Metro (1980) which I just saw at the end of my Truffaut study. I think it gives her some added range. One review I read compared her performance to the Mélanie Laurent character in Inglourious Basterds (2009) in several ways as they both own theatres/Cinema and carrying themselves in a similiar manner (not quite femme fatales but hints of being mysterious). They even look somewhat similar and are playing characters during the period of Nazi occupied France. Truffaut apparently wrote the character with Deneuve in mind after working with her 11 years prior in Mississippi Mermaid (1969).
What’s your review of her performance in Melville’s Un Flic?
I thoroughly loved her. A great performance. Icy and aloof.
@M*A*S*H- It has been ages for me on this one– so many people on the site studying or recently studied Melville. I’m going to have to get on board.
I prefer Jeanne Moreau to Ms Deneuve. Ms Moreau was distinct, unique, original while Catherine was similar in looks to the American star. Ms Moreau was an intellectually more sexually exciting and provocative than Catherine who is more like vanilla ice cream in comparison to the Jules & Jim breakout star who preceded her and laid the way for actresses like Ms Deneuve.