The Representation of the Female Body in Anatomie de l'enfer by Catherine Breillat

Using the film Anatomie de l'enfer as a paradigmatic example, this study examines the ways in which Catherine Breillat-one of the most controversial filmmakers of our time-represents the female body. By recasting some ancient myths while playing with the codes of contemporary pornography, the director of Romance portrays femininity as a tortured and disillusioned identity. This analysis will highlight the ambiguous nature of this representation of the female body, perpetually open to the play of interpretations.