The Price of Desire
Director: Mary McGuckian
Talent: Orla Brady, Vincent Perez, Francesco Scianna, Alanis Morrisette
Release Date: 27th May
The Price of Desire is an attempt by director Mary McGuckian to reclaim the legacy of the modernist architect and designer Eileen Gray (Brady). This film blurs the lines between fiction and documentary, and is narrated by Le Corbusier (Perez) – the so-called “father of modernism” – in a kind of confessional attempt to justify his actions in undermining the impact and influence of Gray’s work. This is offset by the fact that the minimal, black and white set design used throughout mirrors Gray’s modernist style. Even with all Le Corbusier’s mansplaining, the film remains set in a world designed by Gray. Unfortunately, despite this very stylish storytelling device, The Price of Desire gradually succumbs to the standard biopic technique of summarising the events of years into a series of blandly dramatic conversations. Despite this, what endures is the necessity of the message – how a male artist undermined the significance of his female contemporary through a series of small aggressions.
Words: Bernard O’Rourke
