ELEGY. Dir Isabel Coixet. 2008

If you can stomach the soft porn indulged in for the first part of this film, it becomes an interesting examination of the Western fixation with the body, youth and sex. Focussing on decaying flesh and men’s attitudes towards ageing, it also gives charming insight into male friendship.

Student Consuela (Penelope Cruz) has her kit off a lot so that her professor Kepesh (Ben Kingsley) can enjoy the pleasures of her fresh flesh, so we have to endure it too. The point laboured here is that she is youthful and beautiful, and her ageing lover feels very insecure about his maturity in comparison.

The age gap doesn’t bother Consuela, however. The problem is all in Kepesh’s psyche. She loves him but he keeps her at an emotional distance whilst being possessive, jealous and neurotic about not being worthy. His certainty that the affair is doomed prevents him enjoying it, and seals their fate.

He does have uncomplicated sex with a woman his own age (Patricia Clarkson) and this seems to be an ideal arrangement for them both. His relationship with his son is fractured and there are one or two understated and impressive scenes between the two. The most affecting relationship is his friendship with George (Dennis Hopper) which is intimate, deep and wry. Look out for a cameo from Debbie Harry.

The film explores intimacy and grief, is generally slow, and disappoints with a cheesy ending about serious illness, which even the young can’t always escape. Brave of Cruz to get her breasts out for the general public to ogle but not necessary to advance the story.

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