A cinematic catastrophe? The Remake of POSSESSION

Are they mad? Or have they been smoking something dodgy? Unfortunately not. Nevertheless, director Parker Finn (SMILE) is planning a remake of Andrzej Zulawski’s cult classic POSSESSION (1980). One of the most enduring cult films of all time. Jürg Buttgereit declared it the best Berlin film of all time. A work of madness.

The setting is divided Berlin: an island city, enclosed by the Wall, at the height of the Cold War. The camera bathes it in blue-tinged images. Evoking associations with the end of the world and decay. Within it, Isabelle Adjani screams, lashes out and has sex, her body taking on a life of its own in convulsions and spasms. She is circled by a camera as frenzied as it is breathless. And in the director’s chair? Sat Poland’s king of excess, Andrzej Zulawski.

In the remake, Margaret Qualley is set to take on Adjani’s role. Admittedly, this choice is spot on. Anyone who has seen Andie MacDowell’s daughter in The Substance knows this: she can kill off several men with a wild look in her eyes and jump into bed with a slimy octopus. Because that is exactly what Adjani does in the original.

Of course, the question arises: who is this remake aimed at? Certainly not Zulawski cultists. Perhaps Parker Finn is attempting the same coup that his colleague Jim McBride pulled off decades ago? In 1982, cineastes were up in arms about McBride’s plan to make a remake of Jean-Luc Godard’s À BOUT DE SOUFFLET (1959).

Nevertheless, the US independent filmmaker achieved the unimaginable: whilst BREATHLESS (1983) provoked fierce criticism from arthouse enthusiasts, it was a box-office hit in mainstream cinemas. McBride had managed to create a commercial version of a classic. ATEMLOS also paid off for the lead actors Richard Gere and Valerie Kaprisky (following in the footsteps of Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg). Kaprisky, in particular, rose to prominence and also ended up working with Andrzej Zulawski, who directed her in THE PUBLIC WOMAN (1984).

Is Parker Finn planning something similar? A commercial version of POSSESSION? The project is already sparking heated debates in social media groups.

Last year, the b-ware! Ladenkino regularly screened the Zulawski film as part of its late-night programme. If you missed it or can’t get enough of it, you can pick up a DVD copy from our Filmkunst video library. There you’ll also find other films starring Isabelle Adjani or directed by Andrzej Zulawski, as well as Parker Finn’s SMILE films. And, of course, the quirky masterpieces featuring Margaret Qualley.

Dennoch gelang dem US-Independent-Filmer das Unvorstellbare: Zwar provozierte ATEMLOS (1982) bei Arthouse-Freaks krassen Hate-Speech, aber im Mainstream-Kino klingelte die Kasse. McBride hatte die kommerzielle Version eines Klassikers gestemmt. Auch für die Hauptdarsteller Richard Gere und Valerie Kaprisky (in der Nachfolge von Jean-Paul Belmondo und Jean Seberg) hat sich ATEMLOS gelohnt. Vor allem Krapisky erlangte Prominenz und landete ebenfalls bei Andrzej Zulawski, der mit ihr DIE ÖFFENTLICHE FRAU (1984) drehte.

Plant Parker Finn Ähnliches? Eine Kommerz-Version von POSSESSION? Bereits jetzt sorgt das Projekt für hysterische Debatten in Social Media-Gruppen.

Im vergangenen Jahr zeigte das b-ware! Ladenkino den Zulawski-Film regelmäßig in der Nachtvorstellung. Wer ihn verpasst hat oder nie genug davon bekommt, erhält ihn auf DVD in unserer Filmkunst-Videothek. Da findet ihr auch weitere Filme mit Isabelle Adjani bzw von Andrzej Zulawski. Ebenso die SMILE-Filme von Parker Finn. Und die schrägen Meisterwerke mit Margaret Qualley sowieso.