Perfume: The Story of a Murderer Review

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

With the stench of murder and fixation comes the inevitable aroma of possession.

Having read Patrick Suskind’s Perfume I was slightly surprised to see how the IMDB had classified it. Apparently Perfume, with the added marketing title - Story of a Murderer, is for those who search for films under the keywords, ‘shaving’, ‘prostitution’, ‘serial killer’ and ‘France’; it certainly includes all those themes but perhaps not quite in that order.
Perfume tells the story of the extraordinary Jean Baptiste Grenouille. A man born with out his own odour in the stench of 18th century France, Though Grenouille alienates others due to his strange lack of body scent, it is his own superior sense of smell that knows no rival which guides the fantastical story of Perfume along. From the flower presses of Grasse to the fish markets of Paris, this is what makes this story so remarkable.
Suskind’s novel succeeds in evoking smells as vivid as steel, rotting rat corpses and tuberose It is unnerving to watch a smell weaved in language across a page. But can this be matched by a director? Stanley Kubrick did not think so. He declined purchasing the rights for fear of failing one of his favourite books. Suskind himself was very reluctant to translate his novel into celluloid but Bernd Eichinger and his ten million convinced him and in 2001 the rights were sold.
It was worth it. The director, Tom Tykwer had an almost impossible task but Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is the best translation that Suskind could have hoped for. Ben Wishaw plays Grenouille and is excellent, instantly capturing his naivety and yet horrifying immorality. His nose is the only thing that guides his actions and although you are sure to recoil from his actions in pursuing the perfect scent he cannot be condemned. One sense is so dominant that all others fade into insignificance.
The film is successful on a number of levels. The framework of smell, scent and stench permeates the cinematography as the audience joins Grenouille to pursue his victims- to find the next olfactory sensation. Not at all like a Chanel № 5 advert where the sense of smell is transcendent and non-specific, but these smells, the ones that drive Grenouille, are dark, sensual, passionate and overwhelmingly familiar. But don’t worry your other senses aren’t neglected. The dialogue is in skilled hands with Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman playing puppet like roles around the young and sly Grenouille. Their familiar faces reassure us as Grenouille takes twists and turns.
An absolute definite and dominating must see. It will leave you with a bad taste in you’re mouth and a heightened sense of smell. This has got to be the ultimate treat for the senses. (END)

Purfume: The Story of Murdurer
147 mins
Certificate 15
****