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Home » Blogs » Trish Bendix's blog » New French film borrows from "The L Word"

New French film borrows from "The L Word"

by
Trish Bendix

It's hard to be original sometimes. At least, that's what I gather from the people who put together movie posters. We've seen this sort of thing before — artists borrowing from one another and not really bothering to change much more than the title to make it something completely new.

So I shouldn't be surprised that AfterEllen.com reader Clémence gave us a heads-up on a poster for the French film Le Bal des Actrices that appears to take from a previous L Word promo. Observe:

Season 2 might have come and gone, even in France, but you must know, copycats, that lesbians never forget.

However, it's arguable that even The L Word picture is a copy of a much more famous French painting: “Le Bain Turc” by Ingres.

While all three bear a striking resemblance (and there are surely other works of art in existence that utilize the same sort of naked-women group poses), the most interesting thing about them is that they differ in the women's gazes. The actresses of Le Bal des Actrices appear a little "come hither"; Bette and co. seem a little more sassy; and Ingres' women don't even seem to notice they're being gawked at.

Sorry, Ingres. It looks like your whole idea has been taken to the point of no return. The concept has gone from coyly in the buff to completely in the nude.

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    • Submitted by
    Trish Bendix
    on January 28, 2009 - 9:00am.
    TAGS :: 
    Astrogirl's picture

    Mmmmm... yummy

    Submitted by
    Astrogirl (190 posts)
    on January 28, 2009 - 10:30am.

    ~sigh~    Aren't Angelina Jolie's lips (covered in blood or no) just so tasty? I could pick them a million miles away.

    On a probably weird note... I used to look at those L Word naked promos and wonder how squirk and cold it must have been for all the actresses to be pressed naked against each other in the freezing cold of Vancouver... then I realise they do that every show.

    I for one am gald they suffered for their art to bring us loads of girl on girl action. Thanks Ladies!!

    "Why on earth would I miss the chance to wear smelly used shoes, drink warm domestic beer and kick your ass?" - Bette

    who_took_the_chocolate's picture

    Oh yeah, I agree with you.

    Submitted by
    who_took_the_ch... (13 posts)
    on January 28, 2009 - 10:46am.

    Oh yeah, I agree with you. Must've felt reeeeally uncomfortable for them. Oh well, all in a day's work.:)

     

    Mmmm. Angelina Jolie...:):):)

    eve_jig_it's picture

    So many

    Submitted by
    eve_jig_it (591 posts)
    on January 28, 2009 - 11:23am.

    So many things are a copy, of a copy, of a copy of something else.

     

    But when it’s a copy of naked-ness then that’s okay, lol.

      

     

    robin4's picture

    l word picture

    Submitted by
    robin4 (957 posts)
    on January 28, 2009 - 11:40am.

    I hadn't looked at the l word promo picture in a while and i noticed a few new things. is it just me or was helena's head photoshopped in? It's so awkward. Also, I noticed this before by WHY is carmen not front and center in this?!

    Soft Stud's picture

    umm

    Submitted by
    Soft Stud (101 posts)
    on January 28, 2009 - 11:57am.
    when does this new french film start? and wat channel..lol
    N3wY0rkGiirl's picture

    Is it just me.....?

    Submitted by
    N3wY0rkGiirl (8 posts)
    on January 28, 2009 - 11:59am.
    Is it just me or do the french ladies look a little pale? (at least some of them)
    jordan-writes's picture

    Oh the nakedness

    Submitted by
    jordan-writes (254 posts)
    on January 28, 2009 - 3:22pm.
    Aw. I miss naked Dana. I personally like the random pregnant naked lady in the French one. Just think, it might be the Max of the movie!
    Brutal_Romance's picture

    oh well...

    Submitted by
    Brutal_Romance (384 posts)
    on January 28, 2009 - 4:52pm.

    well, inspiration has to come from somewhere!

     and The L word or whoever is complaining should take their immitation as flattery, we are setting whats In *snickers at the insensitive personal usage of 'we'*, and that seems pretty impressive from my angle.

     

    CrystallineGreen's picture

    Can't wait!

    Submitted by
    CrystallineGreen (60 posts)
    on January 28, 2009 - 5:51pm.

    Can't wait to see le Bal des actrices, it's released in a few days here in France and it's supposed to be a mockumentary about actresses, by actresses, I heard it was pretty brilliant!

    I can see the influence, but I don't think it was inspired by it, mostly because I don't remember seeing this L word promo picture used in France... Like you said, Ingres did it before so :) Wasn't there even a mag cover with naked girls, way before this? I'm having a deja vu feeling from something else too ahhaa!

    Magrave's picture

    It was released yesterday

    Submitted by
    Magrave (1 post)
    on January 29, 2009 - 5:00am.

    It was released yesterday and I went to see it...

    Very very good film ! and such talented actresses.

    This movie poster is in big size in the subway. AND I'm not tired of it :)

     

     

    JmParis's picture

    le bal des actrices

    Submitted by
    JmParis (131 posts)
    on January 31, 2009 - 6:11pm.
    I just saw the movie and it's brilliant ! and I agree with you Magrave, you can't get tired of that movie poster in the subway ;-)
    Mély Mel'eau's picture

    Brilliant indeed

    Submitted by
    Mély Mel'eau (159 posts)
    on April 22, 2009 - 1:04pm.

    I finally saw the movie a couple of days ago, it's hilarious, beautiful and sad at the same time. I died of laughter when Maïwenn randomly fell in love with Estelle and Joey got mad lol 

    *rien ne sert de courir*


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