简介：KenRussell'spenultimatefilmforMonitor(subtitled'ImpressionsoftheFrenchComposer')wasoriginallyplannedasafeaturefilmaboutClaudeDebussy(1862-1918),thoughafterthefailureofhistheatricaldebutFrenchDressing(1963)heendedupmakingitfortelevision.Littleelsewassacrificed,asthe82-minuteresult(co-writtenbytheyoungMelvynBragg)waseasilyhismostambitiousfilmuptothen,andstillrepresentsacareerhighpoint.ThisopinionwasnotsharedbyDebussy'sestate,whichinitiallypreventedrepeatscreenings,thoughthecomposer'scopyrighthassinceexpired. Thefilmoperateson,andconstantlyswitchesbetween,threelevels.First,there'sthedramatisedlifestoryofDebussyandhisstormyrelationshipswithlovers,friends,colleaguesandpatrons.Then,therearevisualisationsofhismusic,alongsimilarlinestothoseinElgar(BBC,tx.11/11/1962)andBélaBartók(BBC,tx.24/5/1964),beginningwithastartlingsequenceinwhichayoungwoman,representingSaintSebastian,isshotatpoint-blankrangewitharrows.Andfinally,there'sthefilmwithinTheDebussyFilm,asanambitiousdirectorattemptstocapturethecomplexitiesofhissubjectwhilenegotiatinghisactors'ownturbulentrelationships.…