I go into every newsletter with some rough outline before jumping into it. For some films, I still feel the need to rewatch to make the outline a little more concrete, but there’s a general idea for all of them. It could be a particular plot point or actor, or score; the options are limitless. There’s always something. Well, that is until this week. There’s something so visceral about this film and the whole essence of Julia Ducournau’s being as a filmmaker that I knew I wanted to write something about Raw in anticipation of her newly released film, Titane.
Raw is one of the more divisive movies I have seen in recent years, which is a real shame because it is going to turn people off before they give it a chance. It is the story of a young girl off to college who kinda sorta turns into a cannibal. Now, I know that is not the best sell I could make for this movie. If that is all you know going in, it might be tough for the average person to tune in. It is so much more than that, though. The cannibalism of it all is just a method used to keep the plot moving. If you are able to look past that, then it is no different than your typical coming-of-age films like Lady Bird, Mistress America, or countless others.
Julia Ducournau’s debut feature follows the story of Justine, played brilliantly by Garance Marillier. She is off on her own for the first time as she follows in her parent’s and older sister’s footsteps by going to veterinary school. She goes through the typical struggles of a first-year student. It takes some time for her to really settle in and find out who she is in this new environment. Things take a turn for the worse early on when she develops a brutal rash after being peer-pressured into trying meat for the first time in her life. It turns out her parents sheltered her from meat for a good reason because this ignites something in Justine where she has a desire for flesh.
It would be easy to call Raw a body-horror movie, and trust me, there are some moments where Ducournau is seemingly daring the viewer to turn it off, but it really isn’t that gruesome compared to a lot of other movies. 90% of this movie plays like a typical drama, with some very funny moments thrown in. Ducournau even said that she wasn’t just aiming to shock people for the sake of shocking them because that is boring. The cannibalism is there as a way to substitute for her sexual awakening and discovering who she is.
As I mentioned up top, there’s not one single thing about this film that is like, “oh yeah, that is perfect, and I totally want to write about it.” However, the score and soundtrack on rewatch came pretty close, especially in this scene.
The theme is haunting and feels like it should be up there with some classic scores, IMO.
Raw is really a case of a movie being so visceral and the sum of its part being so good that it results in a phenomenal film. The film feels so cinematic in a way that is hard to explain precisely. Part of it is undoubtedly the outstanding score. The other part of it is the way lighting is used and how the film was shot. There’s one scene in particular when Justine and her sister, Alexia, where the lighting and camera shifted in a moment to more of a blue hue that is impossible to explain with words. It happens at the 1:26 mark.
God, movies are cool.
The hallmarks of an outstanding director are all there from Ducournau in this and her short film, Junior, another body-horror type film starring Garance Marillier. She clearly has a distinct style that I absolutely adore. It helps too that the elements that worked so brilliantly in Raw, the score, and the cinematography, are seemingly easier to transfer over to the rest of her work than a story that really connected personally.
Titane won the Palme d’Or award, the highest honor at arguably the most prestigious film festival, at the Cannes in July. It is the first winner of the prize since Parasite. Sure, that is only because they did not have a festival last year, but it is still absolutely a narrative I will use to my advantage.
My completely spoiler-free review for Titane is that Julia Ducournau knows how to make a movie. Bizarre praise, but it is the same praise I would heap upon Céline Sciamma. It is just this rare thing that you know it when you see it. She has a particular technical craft about her that is rare. You could see the areas where she is leveling up as a filmmaker—brilliantly made. There are a handful of scenes that give off Tarantino vibes with the perfect needle drops. It had some hallmarks of Raw, like the superb score and cinematography. A stunning film. Please see this movie in a theater if it is playing near you and you feel safe. I am all the way in on whatever Julia Ducournau does next.