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L'IDOLE 
Released by Magna Pacific Available to rent now

A hauntingly sensual drama, filmed in France by Australian director Samantha Lang (The Monkey’s Mask) that stars Leelee Sobieski as an Australian actress living in a Paris apartment block. Living a somewhat solitary life, despite the occasional presence of a sometime lover (the pair really only communicate through sex), she ends up forming a friendship with the elderly Chinese man (James Hong) who also lives in the block.

Full of lingering and fluid camera shots L’Idole is certainly a delight for the eyes and with a script by Roman Polanski’s long term collaborator Gerard Brach the dialogue, although minimalist in style, positively crackles.

Lang certainly knows how to make interesting movies and although the L’Idole might seem to have a pretty inconsequential plot the movie actually touches on some very interesting themes especially how loneliness can draw the most unlikeliest of people together. Sobieski, certainly not conventionally beautiful, gives off a very sensual glow in this role whilst the veteran Hong is never less than stately. A perfect Saturday night and a bottle of wine movie.