The last update we gave you on Pearl, French director Elsa Amiel's debut feature, was back in April, and big news it was - news that Swiss sizzler Julia Föry had been cast as the film's eponymous heroine. The film is currently "in post-production", we noted, meaning it could well be doing the festival rounds as early as this summer.
Julia Föry as Pearl
And that is indeed what has happened. Shown in Venice last Saturday, the film has had "strong word-of-mouth" according to France24. And the first review - on Indie Wire - praises both the film for "subverting the male gaze in striking fashion", and Julia, "whose acting debut suggests her abilities as a performer aren’t confined to the stage".
Julia (with Peter Mullan) in Pearl
There's also the first stills, and the first preview clip, which - though we don't get to see what shape Julia is in - demonstrates that she has more than enough star quality to hold the camera's attention. Plus we all get to play a bit of "Spot the FBB Extra".
What we'd really like to see though, is the film in its entirety! Even more so after reading Indie Wire writer Michael Nordine's description of its opening moments...
The first close-up is almost microscopic, so close to the skin you can see sweat emanating from individual pores as you try to discern what body part you’re looking at. Then the camera pulls back ever so slightly, just enough for you to realize you’re inches away from the base of a woman’s neck — might this be Pearl? — as she pushes herself to the limit on a weight machine. The music, a dreamy guitar riff that wouldn’t be out of place in a David Lynch film, isn’t as loud as her pained exhalations.
More news on Pearl as soon as we get it.
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