Film Review — Titane (2021)
★★★★★
A car-loving serial killer on the run masquerades as the long-missing son of a firefighter.
If the cannibalistic coming-of-age Raw was a mere taste of the talent of Julia Ducournau, this long-awaited follow-up cements her status as a must-see filmmaker with all the ferocity of a hammer to the face.
Par for the course for Ducournau, Titane is a unique proposition, dispensing with convention to once again tell the story of a young woman finding herself. Its Cronenbergian use of graphic violence and sex will probably be too much for some — particularly those uncomfortable with nose horror and home abortions —but it strikes a fine balance with expert handling of its themes which tackle self-discovery and acceptance. Allegory I imagine will resonate powerfully with queer and trans viewers.
At the steely heart of this remarkable film is Agathe Rousselle, who leaves everything on the screen in an unbelievable central performance. I’m not sure what’s harder to believe: this being her feature film debut or the lack of awards attention from major organisations. Rousselle will feature in more projects, but it’s hard to see her ever topping this brilliantly bizarre and chameleonic performance.
Titane is cool, sleek, dangerous and sexy. It’s deranged and warped and, at times, completely fucking insane. It’s also deeply touching and funny, finding warmth in the most unlikely pairing imaginable. As an experience, it’s hard to put into words — all I can really say is I absolutely loved it.
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