Chichester Cinema at New Park
The Balcony
Joseph Strick's 'The Balcony' is based on Jean Genet's play of the same name that deals with the nature of power and the blurring of fact and fiction. Genet himself was persuaded to allow the film adaptation when it was pointed out to him by Strick that the modern version of the brothel of ideas and physicality (‘The Balcony’ of the film's title) was the movie studio and the end of the film works just as well as it does in the theatre.
Shelley Winters is the Madame of a brothel where customers play out their erotic fantasies, oblivious to a revolution which is sweeping the country. When her old friend, the chief of police (Peter Falk), asks her to impersonate the missing queen in order to reassure the people and halt the revolution, she offers instead three of her customers to play the general, bishop and chief justice, all of whom have died in the revolution.
The issues at the heart of 'The Balcony' are as relevant now as they have been at any particular point in modern society; the very nature of power and how fact and fiction are but the playthings of those that hold offices of that power.
Performances in the film are excellent. Lee Remick is wonderful as the assistant to the Madame, Peter Falk gives us a powerhouse of a Chief of Police played with oil, smarm and charisma. Jeff Corey, Kent Smith and Peter Brocco play the clients, promoted to real Bishop, Judge and General with just the right amount of confusion and bravado.
USA · 1963 · Joseph Strick · 84min
