Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Cornedbeef · 12-21-2006, 09:42 PM

http://www.hollywood.com/

In 18th-century France, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, orphaned as a newborn in the streets of Paris, is alone in the world. A peculiar child who rarely speaks, Grenouille is alienated from others but blessed with a remarkable gift. His sense of smell is so refined, so attuned to every blade of grass and blossoming flower, that it’s tragic when he’s sold into servitude to a tannery at the age of 13 and surrounded by the foul odors that accompany his labor. But there comes a day when Grenouille does an errand in town and discovers the object that will transform his life: perfume. Eager to learn the art of creating sophisticated fragrance, he apprentices himself to a once-renowned perfumer, and proves to be a savant whose almost mystical knowledge of scent surpasses anything that can be taught to him by masters of the craft. Ironically, he was born with no scent of his own, a distinction which colors his undistinguished life. But Grenouille is fearless when it comes to the pursuit of a perfect perfume. When he discovers the most intoxicating scent he has ever experienced--the natural fragrance of a beautiful young girl--he learns that the only method to preserve her innocence and fresh beauty will require murder. Plaguing the countryside with a series of gruesome killings, Grenouille must stay one step ahead of the authorities until he captures the final ingredient for his greatest perfume--the essence of a beautiful redheaded girl whose wealthy father earnestly protects her. Only then, he believes, will he earn the attention and adulation that his extraordinary talent deserves.

Director Credit
Tom Tykwer Director
Cast Credit
Ben Whishaw Jean-Baptiste Grenouille
Dustin Hoffman Giuseppe Baldini
Alan Rickman Antoine Richis
Rachel Hurd-Wood Laura Richis
Corinna Harfouch Madame Arnulfi
John Hurt Narrator
Karoline Herfurth The Plum Girl
David Calder Bishop of Grasse
Simon Chandler Mayor of Grasse
Sian Thomas Madame Gaillard

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**hepcat** · 12-22-2006, 02:17 PM

I was just reading about this movie in Interview magazine. It's intriguing to see a movie where smell is such an important part of the story. The plot seems creepy, but it also seems like a risky movie to make. (I suppose it was a book too, though.)

DesertRose · 12-22-2006, 03:10 PM

Hepcat, it is indeed based on a book, Le Parfum, and a good one at that. It came out in German in 1985, then was translated in French a little after.

**hepcat** · 12-22-2006, 04:04 PM

Thanks, DesertRose. It sounds like a good one to track down and read.

12-21-2006, 09:42 PM	#1
Cornedbeef FORT Fogey Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 1,652	Perfume: The Story of a Murderer http://www.hollywood.com/ In 18th-century France, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, orphaned as a newborn in the streets of Paris, is alone in the world. A peculiar child who rarely speaks, Grenouille is alienated from others but blessed with a remarkable gift. His sense of smell is so refined, so attuned to every blade of grass and blossoming flower, that it’s tragic when he’s sold into servitude to a tannery at the age of 13 and surrounded by the foul odors that accompany his labor. But there comes a day when Grenouille does an errand in town and discovers the object that will transform his life: perfume. Eager to learn the art of creating sophisticated fragrance, he apprentices himself to a once-renowned perfumer, and proves to be a savant whose almost mystical knowledge of scent surpasses anything that can be taught to him by masters of the craft. Ironically, he was born with no scent of his own, a distinction which colors his undistinguished life. But Grenouille is fearless when it comes to the pursuit of a perfect perfume. When he discovers the most intoxicating scent he has ever experienced--the natural fragrance of a beautiful young girl--he learns that the only method to preserve her innocence and fresh beauty will require murder. Plaguing the countryside with a series of gruesome killings, Grenouille must stay one step ahead of the authorities until he captures the final ingredient for his greatest perfume--the essence of a beautiful redheaded girl whose wealthy father earnestly protects her. Only then, he believes, will he earn the attention and adulation that his extraordinary talent deserves. Director Credit Tom Tykwer Director Cast Credit Ben Whishaw Jean-Baptiste Grenouille Dustin Hoffman Giuseppe Baldini Alan Rickman Antoine Richis Rachel Hurd-Wood Laura Richis Corinna Harfouch Madame Arnulfi John Hurt Narrator Karoline Herfurth The Plum Girl David Calder Bishop of Grasse Simon Chandler Mayor of Grasse Sian Thomas Madame Gaillard

12-22-2006, 02:17 PM	#2
hepcat Phooey. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: here Posts: 24,898 Blog Entries: 3	I was just reading about this movie in Interview magazine. It's intriguing to see a movie where smell is such an important part of the story. The plot seems creepy, but it also seems like a risky movie to make. (I suppose it was a book too, though.) __________________ THE SMEAR: Barack Obama got 100% on "Through the Fire and Flames" on Guitar Hero. THE TRUTH: Barack Obama is a DDR fanatic.

12-22-2006, 04:04 PM	#4
hepcat Phooey. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: here Posts: 24,898 Blog Entries: 3	Thanks, DesertRose. It sounds like a good one to track down and read. __________________ THE SMEAR: Barack Obama got 100% on "Through the Fire and Flames" on Guitar Hero. THE TRUTH: Barack Obama is a DDR fanatic.

12-22-2006, 03:10 PM	#3
DesertRose When coffee just won't do Join Date: May 2005 Location: Reno hell Posts: 3,305	Hepcat, it is indeed based on a book, Le Parfum, and a good one at that. It came out in German in 1985, then was translated in French a little after.