Cul-de-sac (1966)

 Roman Polanski's "Cul-de-sac"


I have to admit: the first half of Roman Polanski's 1966 film "Cul-de-sac" left me worried that I was watching something that lacked any aim or purpose. While that still may be true, the second half of the film (although not so dramatically different than the first) left me enjoyingly confounded. Wow, what a bizarre film. 

The film centers on an American gangster named Dickey who takes up an impromptu temporary residence at the castle of wealthy Englishman, George, and his French wife, Teresa, after a botched bank robbery. Dickey is gruff and aggressive, bullying the cowardly George. When friends come to visit George, the group must not reveal the true state of their situation.

I don't even know where to start with this film. Me describing the loose plot doesn't accurately portray the absurdity of both the situation and the tone that Polanski instills. It makes me recall Polanski's debut, 1962's "Knife in the Water," which was a film that was completely about its tone. "Cul-de-sac" is not dissimilar. There is a seething perversion, aggravation, complicity,, and even horror that sits comfortably underneath the plot's idiocy. 

While I found the film to be completely intriguing, I didn't quite get its overarching point. It did at times feel very aimless and confused over its very existence. While I applaud it as a mastery in tonal storytelling, I didn't quite feel as though it was full of depth or intrigue. Despite this, it was still an enjoyable experience that left me feeling completely bewildered.



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