Belle de Jour (1967)

Within the intricately woven tapestry of Parisian society, we meet Severine Serizy, a radiant young woman bound in a marriage of convenience rather than passion. Her husband, a dashing young surgeon named Pierre, is more than able to cater to her materialistic desires, lavishing her with the luxuries of life. Despite this, there exists a disconcerting chasm between them, a void filled by Severine's inability to surrender herself physically to her husband. In the luminous daylight hours, Severine embarks on a journey that leads her to an intimate, clandestine apartment serving as a house of ill repute. Her decision to tread this path is less about the allure of money and more about satisfying a deeply rooted, psychic need for degradation - a sinister seed planted by a child molester in her tender years. This becomes her secret profession, a stark contrast to the lavish lifestyle she leads with Pierre. Engaging in a dance between her marital respectability and her obsessive profession, Severine reserves her afternoons from two to five to this secretive world. This cryptic schedule earns her the moniker 'Belle de Jour', adding an air of enigma to her dual existence. Simultaneously, she immerses herself in vivid, kinky fantasies, creating a vibrant escape from reality that fuels her sexual desires. Throughout this mesmerizing narrative, Severine continues to maintain her chastity within her marriage, leading a double life that intertwines the bourgeois with the risqué. Belle de Jour is a tale that explores the complex paradox of a woman's existence, caught between societal expectations and secret desires. It promises to draw you in, leaving you pondering the mysterious depths of the human psyche.

Belle de Jour is a drama movie featuring Catherine Deneuve.

Belle de Jour is currently streaming on Criterion Channel and Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Belle de Jour on Amazon Video and Apple TV.