Filmmaker Alice Winocour's Augustine takes a dour view of 19th-century society and science, specifically the pioneering French neurologist (and teacher of Sigmund Freud) Jean-Martin Charcot (Vincent Lindon). Augustine (French vocalist Soko, aka Stéphanie Sokolinski) is Charcot's star patient, an illiterate, orphaned teenage kitchen maid who is subject to mysterious seizures. Charcot is struck by how well the nubile virgin fits his theories of "ovarian hysteria," exhibiting Augustine and her induced fits of paralysis and convulsions like some bizarre dance-performance act in front of voyeuristic male physicians. Meanwhile, he also takes Augustine into his own home, where an unspoken sort of S&M-laced relationship develops between the pair, with obsessions on both sides. Viewers might assume from this that Charcot was one of history's crackpots rather than a great researcher who defined multiple sclerosis, among other ailments (although the awful, stroke-like maladies that afflict Augustine remain mysterious). Still, as a costume drama of repressive Victorian patriarchy, this is a compelling drama that will definitely appeal to fans of foreign films. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a Q&A with costar Soko (36 min.); two shorts from director Alice Winocour: 2007's “Magic Paris” (20 min.) and 2005's “Kitchen” (15 min.); an interview with Winocour (6 min.); two music videos by Soko: “Destruction of the Disgustingly Ugly Hate” and “We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow”; and a photo gallery. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a fine foreign drama.] (C. Cassady)
Augustine
Music Box, 102 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $34.95, Sept. 17 Volume 28, Issue 6
Augustine
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: