First Hit: This film dragged and dragged and dragged.
Michelle Pfeiffer plays Lea de Lonval an aging courtesan who, unlike her contemporaries, still has her looks, charm and beguiling sexiness. For some reason, and I don’t know why, she hooks up with the son of one of her peers Madame Peloux (played by Kathy Bates).
The boy, nicknamed Cheri (played by Rupert Friend), is misguided, lazy, and lost. When Cheri is 19 years old, Peloux brings the two together for the benefit of his education. They stay together for 6 years. During this time neither of them outwardly admits their love to each other nor do they share deep intimate thoughts.
Their life together is drinking, eating, and sex. Additionally, Cheri gets his need to be held and nurtured fulfilled. And Lea, she has a young man with whom she controls and doesn't want much more from her than companionship. Who cares? Not me. Nothing in the dialogue made this relationship important or interesting. From the beginning the end was telegraphed.
Towards the end of this tedious film Cheri gets married to a younger woman but, then and only then does he really realize how much in love he is with Lea. The same is true for Lea, she tries other young men, but they aren’t Cheri. They finally admit their love but must part. Again, who cares?
Pfeiffer is beautiful and is the best thing in this film. She doesn’t have to act older or younger than she is and she does this beautifully. Friend is mediocre and brings little charm or reason for his being someone anyone would desire. Bates is totally unbelievable as aged courtesan and is simply mean and controlling for the most part.
Overall: The best line of the film was uttered by Pfeiffer and had something to do with; once you’ve tasted youth, you’ll always go back. But then again, so what.