Peter von Kant (French/German)

François Ozon’s “Peter von Kant” is about a film director toxically obsessed with a younger actor whom he launches. The film is filled with emotions of love, rage, jealousy, possessiveness and all of them in their full glory. The film is apparently a gender turned remake of an older film (which I had or have no idea about) and is set in 1972, which also happens to be the year of the original film.

Peter von Kant is a famous aging film maker, who lives in a posh apartment in Cologne. He is just getting over a breakup with his ex boyfriend. He is needy, a genius and not necessarily a nice man. His loyal, dutiful servant/assistant is Karl, who is either route or just never speaks and does everything that Peter asks him to do. And unsurprisingly Peter doesn't treat him well either. One day he is visited by his muse, a singer and an actress and a very good friend of his who introduces him to Amir, a 23 year old young man with the face of an angel, who might want to be an actor. Von Kant is only too happy to help. Peter invites the young man the next day, seduces with his charm, drinks, wealth and dreams of making it huge in showbiz and next thing you know is that the two are living together and Peter keeps his promise of making a film with him. But Peter soon starts getting a taste of his own cruelty. He is madly obsessed with Amir, who now is slightly famous. He wants to live his life, hook up with other people and just generally use Peter for money and everything else. Their relationship is getting toxic with Karl being a mute spectator to everything. As expected, after a big unexpected fight Amir leaves Peter, thereby bringing Peter's life in a spiral out of control mess. He fights with everyone, is miserable beyond belief and even his daughter or mother can't help. Eventually his mother puts some sense into him and he is able to move on, so much so, that when Amir calls him asking to meet him, he refuses.

This film is such a great example of power play. You first witness the dynamic between Peter and his assistant Karl, but soon the tables turn when Amir has full control over everything that Peter does or wants. He drives Peter mad with jealousy and fights an loud noises until the couple eventually hit their breaking point. There were two main highlights of the film for me. First the acting of the lead playing Peter. Man.. he is too good and amazing playing a role that requires full bare gusto. He is amazing. And secondly the choice of actor to play Amir. HE has amazing body, sexy curly hair, perfect heart shaped pout and you can totally believe that Peter or anyone can madly obsessively fall in love with that man and do anything for him. And As a character, Amir soon learns how to use that to his advantage eventually. The assistant's character Karl is interesting who witnesses every single thing that's going around and absorbing the various humiliations both Peter and Amir lob at him. Doe she secretly enjoy being a sub servant? Maybe! The actor playing Karl does get his moments to shine and it is amazing that even though he technically is not a central character, his quite acting, mannerism and overall gait leaves a strong impression on anyone's minds. The ending of the film is also interesting where its most fiery character erupts and finally settles into quiet melancholia, which eventually also leads to Karl leaving him.

Despite a short run time, the film impressively portrays the ever-changing dynamics of this tumultuous, inevitably doomed relationship. The script can feel thin and lacking in substance, but Peter von Kant remains an engaging look at a firecracker of a relationship. I enjoyed this film, both for its vision on an interesting relationship but also for the style and substance and the gorgeous Amir. (7/10)