A Tempestuous Dance of Art, Passion, and Innovation
A mixture of history and drama, Curiosa (2019) is a French film fascinated with the relations of art, romance, and self-imposed authority. It draws on the letters and the erotic pictorial work of Pierre Louÿs and Marie de Régnier set in the Parisian bohemian world in the 19th century. Rather than just physical intimacy, the film captures the intertwining of obsession and art. It showcases the reality to the lavish visuals with unbroken trance amiss in the castle of Parisian sensuality.
Synopsis
The framework of this film is set in the late 1800s and shows the life of a writer, Marie de Régnier, who is stuck in a politically motivated marriage genre with poet Henri de Régnier. Although her love interest is an exuberant “want it all” friend of her husband’s called Pierre Louÿs who dabbles in erotic pictorial works like sculpting.
With the romantic erotic imagination enabled by Pierre’s bohemian artistic world, Marie takes the plunge in self-destructive liberating sexual affair. Through letters, poems and even photographs, Louise and Marie crossed every known border of eroticism while intertwining the societal norms paradoxically with personal freedom.
While the factual undertones deeply tear the audience’s emotions to shatters, the powerful visuals along bring back the romance-filled decadence. The ergonomic nature of the film captures the wishes of humanity to overcome the desire for creativity along with the implications lurking around.
Awards and Achievements
Internationally, Curiosa didn’t receive many accolades, but it’s well regarded in European art house cinema for the quality of the production design and captivating form of storytelling. Its merits include the following:
Art Direction and Costume Design – exquisite capturing the beauty of France during the Belle Époque
Bold Narrative – extraordinary approach on female fantasies without showing them in an exploitative manner
Not a festival favorite, it nonetheless embodies a certain artistic value in erotic biopics.
Cast & Crew
Director: Lou Jeunet
Writers: Lou Jeunet, Raphaëlle Desplechin
Notable Cast:
Noemie Merlant in the role of Marie de Regnier
Niels Schneider in the role of Pierre Louÿs
Benjamin Lavernhe as Henri de Regnier
Noemie Merlant (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) gives a striking performance as the character of Marie showing the perfect blend of bold and subtle. Niels Schneider effortlessly plays the seductive and immoral Louÿs, drawing audiences to his poetic yet disturbing world.
Community ratings
Curiosa has a rating of 5.4/10 on IMDb and with that comes polarizing opinions. Some people viewed the movie as a stunning period piece that had some touches of feminine power while others think that the film was overly erotic with little to no emotional depth and satisfaction.
For now, it appeals to audiences who love the indulgence of historical romance fiction with a twist, particularly those who prefer their stories with sensuality covered in deep emotional intricacies.
Personal Insights
Curiosa dwells in the blurred lines between art and hedonism. With its stunning outfits, languid expressions, and passionate moments, it is not simply about delight but also freedom—especially for women grappling with desire in a restrictive context.
It is a film that challenges viewers to consider how eroticism, creativity, and selfhood are often interwoven. For admirers of The Dreamers, A Dangerous Method, or The Piano Teacher, Curiosa may not be as striking, but is intense in a more subdued way.
Watch it not just for the romance, but for the inner tempest that quietly rages under the surface—of a woman caught between her past, present, and future self.
Cultural Significance
Curiosa is a noteworthy addition to the corpus of historical films about feminine sexuality, shifting the attention in the 19th-century literature from male’s to female’s gaze. It reveals the unarticulated aspirations of women firmly situated at the edges of respectability, and yet, in the very heart of cultural change.
Through erotic letters, subversive paintings, and hushed dissent, Curiosa captures the spirit of women who, like men of letters and poets, had their share of stories—wonderous, epic, and mostly unknown.
