B. Monkey

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Movie
German title B. Monkey
Original title B. Monkey
Country of production United Kingdom
original language English
Publishing year 1998
length 92 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Michael Radford
script Chloe King ,
Michael Radford,
Michael Thomas
production Colin Vaines ,
Stephen Woolley
music Jennie Muskett
camera Ashley Rowe
cut Joëlle Hache
occupation

B. Monkey is a 1998 British film starring Asia Argento . The thriller romance is based on the novel My Name Is B. Monkey by Andrew Davies . Directed by Michael Radford .

action

In London , the rather boring elementary school teacher Alan, who is completely absorbed in his work and love for jazz , meets the young, wild Beatrice. Because of her monkey tattoo , she is nicknamed 'B. Monkey '. Together with friend Bruno, who is almost like a brother to her, she robs jewelry stores according to the instructions of the aging, gay and coking dandy Paul. Together, all three form an emergency community in the harsh underworld. But Beatrice alias B. Monkey wants to get out and leave this emergency community. Together with Alan, she dreams of a life together. After a joint trip to Paris and visits to old jazz cult sites, after several unsuccessful attempts, they finally come close in bed. Back in London, the underworld catches up with Beatrice and thus Alan again. Bruno, who has been evicted from Paul's apartment, is looking for a place to stay. The coking Paul cannot raise embezzled money and gets more and more into a mess.

To make matters worse, the elementary school teacher is deliberately wrongly accused of abuse by a mother when he separates her son from another student after an assault. His job is in danger. Beatrice and Bruno settle the precarious situation for him by forcing that mother to withdraw her complaint under pressure. All to the displeasure of Alan, who draws the consequences and starts a new job in the country.

An excursion that was initially nice for both ends in a scandal when Alan realizes that Beatrice's cars have been stolen. The dissonance evaporates and both live in the quiet country away from the big city and the underworld. Beatrice, however, makes the mistake of calling Paul, to whom she gave money before leaving to get out of the clutches of the debt collectors, and to inquire about his condition.

Paul then appears to her and is on the run. Your money was on cocaine . Then Bruno appears, followed by the debt collector. The whole thing escalates. While trying to escape, Beatrice is caught by one of the debt collectors and taken hostage while Alan keeps the underworld boss in check. Paul realizes the damage he has done and shoots himself. Just as the situation threatens to degenerate into a stalemate - one of the gangsters has Beatrice, while Alan has the gang boss - Bruno appears out of nowhere and shoots both of them one after the other. He also wants to shoot Alan and go to London with Beatrice. But Beatrice stands protectively in front of Alan, who outgrows himself and fights for Beatrice regardless of the threat and implores Bruno to let go of her. Resigned, Bruno disappears into the car with the corpses and only reports one last time briefly, telling both of them that everything went well. Beatrice and Alan continue to live in the country unmolested. The film ends with Beatrice's saying: "Who would have ever thought that I would find my happiness here at the ass of the world."

Film music

The film conjures up the jazz legend Django Reinhardt and events from his life.

Remarks

The world premiere was on July 11, 1998 at the London Film Festival .

Reviews

“An exciting story about a dangerous love between a dreamy teacher and a seductive criminal in the dark streets of London. Impressively staged by Il Postino director Michael Radford. "

- Dirk Jasper (CyberKino)

"Director Michael Radford (...) tells a dirty fairy tale full of warmth and honesty."

- Der Spiegel 07-1999

“The film itself is as irreconcilable as the opposing character of the two. Also disappointing in terms of performance. "

- film service 14/1999

“An unusual love story in the dark streets of London is told by the British film 'B. Monkey '. Radford's melancholy and passionate film was based on a novel by the author Andrew Davis ( your name is B. Monkey ), who also wrote the screenplay. "

- Rhein-Zeitung of July 14, 1999

“As a London jewel thief who would rather be a housewife, Italo starlet Asia Argento wanted to start her international career. It's a shame that the honest thriller is a single misfire. "

- Cinema 07/1999

"A woman gets out - melancholy, slightly dim love thriller with a great cast."

- TV fiction 15/1999

"A love story that lives more from the little gestures than from a tense story."

- TV Today 15/1999

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Dirk Jasper FilmLexikon ( Memento from November 25, 2009 in the Internet Archive )