Going Places

By: Amos Lassen

"Going Places" ("Les valseuses")
"If we don't know where to go, why not stop awhile?"
Amos Lassen
Trouble seems to be the name of two thugs who seem to have no goal in life harass, assault, steal, murder and CHARM their way out of trouble. There is nothing they won't steal from trinkets to people. They are joined by Marie-Ange, a jaded hairdresser and she becomes their lover, their cook and their confessor who is on a quest for sexual pleasure. This is not a new film but it now comes our way on DVD with all of its fun and vulgarity and it is a shocker. It is misogynistic and features hateful characters yet it has a certain something. Bertrand Blier somehow managed to get this made in 1974 and it is well written and finely acted .It has been considered as a film of French sexual empowerment and Gerard Depardieu as Jean-Claude(yes, the one who pees on planes) and Patrick Dewaere as Pierrot are the thugs, hoods who spend their time robbing stores and women and when you see this film you will be amazed at what it manages to get away with. The two are totally immoral, insensitive, brutal and ignorant and the film is vulgar and perverse but...it is entertaining and never bores.
The comedy is clever and just gets wilder and wilder and this is a total black comedy that is unique in many of its aspects. Jeanne Moreau gives one of her most interesting performances as a lonely lady who needs male companionship. The movie is a shocker that takes the viewer on a road trip like none other. Many find the treatment of women upsetting but it is all in fun.
It is very east for the viewer to have mixed feelings about the film. With Jeanne Moreau and Miou-Miou and Depardieu you get an excellent cast but as the movie moves forward it is easy to be pulled in. Totally offbeat, there is no wonder that there are mixed opinions. This is the kind of film that each person has to reach his own decision.