Das Perfume

I went to see Perfume in Rosendale, NY last evening, in a small town art deco theater. I had been longing to see the movie as I had read the book many years ago and found it to be one of the best reads for a historical/murder/mayhem story, very poetically written. Das Perfume is the German title, and since I came from German class tonight, I should give its title in the language in which it was written.

I do not want to tell the story. Some things are better left to be read; the visual nature of the movie made the subtle (or as the case may be not so subtle) horror of the tale too real. It was beautifully filmed; the setting is 17th century Paris. Dirt, festering smells, rotten teeth (oh God, one of my phobias),lust,sex and the sense of smell, all mixed up with murder - with a twist.

I am one who has a morbid fascination with the macabre, so I do have to say that I was entranced. The final orgy scene, (5,000 extras----CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT????!!!) was a bit superflorous for me. I would have written and directed that differently in keeping with the overall tone of the movie, but I was captivated and the entire movie was a visual treat.

It also gave me a renewed appreciation for the making of a truely WONDERFUL perfume. Being very sensitive to smell, I am very picky about my scent and the pureness and quality of the oils. I related to Grenoille as a young man, when he would lay down in the forest and smell the lichen, the leaves, the dirt, the mushroom. For only after sight, touch, smell (and in some instances-taste) can one truely absorb the essence of the world.

This is an oil study in color and light and air......... patti