Successive Slidings of Pleasure

You will be happy after you get through the first hour and forty-eight minutes. Then you can go ahead and skip the credits. The movie is an hour and forty-nine minutes long.

It's absurd and it's boring, but the best way to describe it is dreamlike. Characters show up, disappear, and morph into other characters. There are elements of lesbianism, sadism, eroticism, masochism, and torture. It includes fake blood mixed with raw eggs, body painting, stern nuns, a wavering priest, and prostitution. Then at the end they are condemned to repeat it all. The French women are beautiful and often naked, so there is that.

An outstanding deconstruction of a murder mystery. Methods of story telling taken apart and presented in a much more cohesive story than it appears. Words, images and items tell a story often backdropped by words or images that seem almost nonsensical but trust me. If it grabs you right it will be worth the trip.

The art of the movie and the colors of the art are good. I just wish they would have said it was in French. The description said English audio. I had to read the CC. I don't understand spoken French very well.

It's softcore porn pretending to be art.

"Successive Slidings of Pleasure" is another of the recently released DVDs of films written and directed by the French auteur Alain Robbe-Grillet. For decades, Robbe-Grillet's works have been difficult to access - especially for N. American audiences - but a recent arrangement with the, deceased, film-maker's wife (Catherine Robbe-Grillet ) has now made 6 of his earliest films from the 1960-70's period available. Redemption DVD has issued 5 individual disks in N. America, and in England the British Film Institute (BFI) has produced a box set that includes all 6 features in a single package (note: the BFI set is a Region 2 PAL format & requires a 'region-free' DVD player to access)."Successive Slidings of Pleasure" was made when Robbe'Grillet was in mid-career and it, arguably, might be said to represent the director at his peak - with all of his 'trademark' elements developed to their fullest. This is really an 'art film' with a capital 'A' and is full of enuf ambiguities and enigmatic images and plot twists to keep the viewer constantly perplexed. In a sense, this is Robbe-Grillete's goal as he 'plays' with the conventional mechanisms of cinema in un-conventional ways to challenge the viewer's perceptions of the reality that his screenplays promulgate, and subsequently provides a very surreal viewing experience - somewhat reminiscent of Bunuel's early works. This movie has the barest of 'plots' based around the premise of 2 women (of 'easy virtue') living together - one of whom is mysteriously murdered - and the other is 'questioned' as a suspect. While this may sound straight forward - the way in which the director presents the characters and situations is totally non-linear and ultimately provides no concrete conclusions. Events and people are introduced from multiple perspectives and time frames as the film progresses and the director 'toys' with the audience's 'suspension of disbelief' by constantly altering the sense of the reality of what is occurring in the film. After viewing several of Robbe-Grillet's works it becomes apparent that for this director the 'film' itself is the artistic 'experience' - not the 'story' that is being told. Once one abandons the premise that anything is going to 'make sense' it is possible to slip into the film's lush visuals and go-along for the psychedelic ride. Robbe-Grillet utilizes many techniques to reinforce his surrealistic visions - including startling, incongruous sound effects in many scenes and an eerie frozen motion for the actors on occasion that makes them appear almost like mannequins within the action. There are also many allusions to other 'contemporary' artists & art movements.BUT - what makes Robbe-Grillete's films stand out from many of the other New Wave-ish directors of his day was his particular fascination with erotica and especially the realm of 'dominance and submission' - aspects of which he and his wife practiced in their own personal life, and which found their way into many of his cinematic efforts. "Successive Slidings of Pleasure" contains quite a bit of full female nudity throughout its content and many scenes that feature BDSM elements (as per the DVD box-cover image!). Robbe-Grillet presents most of his sadeo-erotic imagery in artful tableaux rather than graphic 'porn' style action - and it is all rather lyrical in its' depiction. There is even a bit of 'nuns-ploitation' woven into the mix. While relatively 'tame' by modern standards these transgressive erotic visions were off-putting, to some, back in the day of their initial screening, and helped contribute to the suppression, and resultant obscurity, of Robbe-Grillet's films.In the final analysis I found "Successive Slidings of Pleasure" to be an engaging and unique viewing experience - replete with very beautiful actresses shedding their cloths regularly - and many exquisitely photographed scenes. Enigmatic in the extreme, perhaps a trifle tedious at times, but definitely worth watching. This film is presented in color - pristine print quality - French language with English subtitles... and some nice extras.

It was not like I thought the only thing about this movie was the hot ladies and all that bush.not shaved which I really hate .this movie is not worth the money sorry

The fully uncut and uncensored presentation, no less, and the one reason for watching this film are the two or three attractive young ladies who appear fully nude. Alain Robbe-Grillet appears to be one of those directors who are preoccupied with feet. Why they think that cinema audiences share their obsession I can't imagine. The DVD has an interview where he talks about his 'genius' and admits that shoes play a big part in his movies. If you like feet and you like watching paint dry, this could be the film for you.

Typical French art house film, i.e. not very good. Although this type of film will have its fans I am not one of them but I am willing to give these type of films a go

Dreadful film. I like weird stuff, I like French cinema in general, but this is tosh.

Excellent, just what the doctor ordered