The film's exploration of desire is deeply tied to the concept of the gaze. Buñuel's use of cinematography and editing creates a sense of voyeurism, positioning the viewer as a spectator to Séverine's desires and experiences. The male gaze, embodied by Séverine's clients and husband, is presented as objectifying and reductive, reinforcing the notion that women are commodities to be consumed. Conversely, Séverine's own gaze is marked by a sense of curiosity and detachment, underscoring her ambiguous relationship with her own desires.
Unpacking the Subversive Nature of Desire: An Analysis of Luis Buñuel's "Belle de Jour" (1967) Phim Belle De Jour 1967 Thuyet Minh
At its core, "Belle de Jour" is a film about the performative nature of femininity. Séverine, played by Catherine Deneuve, is a beautiful and enigmatic figure, whose desires and motivations are expertly obscured by Buñuel's direction. As she navigates her new role as a prostitute, Séverine adopts a persona that is both alluring and detached, oscillating between passivity and agency. This performance of femininity is reinforced by the film's use of costumes, makeup, and mise-en-scène, which create a sense of artifice and spectacle. The film's exploration of desire is deeply tied