'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer'

[MarkostheGnostic]

I saw this film recently, and it MUST be viewed alchemically, or else it remains absurd. I've included links for the film, as well as the book. The book link better describes the story-line, but everyone at this site would surely grok the 'essence' which the tragic antagonist seeks from beautiful women (Anima figures).

The rats and filth which the film opens with, along with his casting aside into shit at birth by his fish-monger mother is surely the Nigredo. Fish-water-rain-unconsciousness. From there, the Prima Materia is macerated in the a 1st chakra survival fight of an orphanage. Additional chakra/planetary motivations - Sexual, Power, Seeking, and Insight - follow from this through various depictions of nudity, murder, enfleurage, and disillusionment, finally rapturous Love emerges from filth, pain, and horror. Cohobation (living in a cave/womb/tomb/incubator), Dismemberment, Death, Imbibition, and Transmutation elements abound.

The laboratory scenes are great! I want one of the twin alembics the murderous perfumer uses!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfume:_The_Story_of_a_Murderer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfume:_The_Story_of_a_Murderer_(film)

http://i55.tinypic.com/f8e1f.jpg http://i52.tinypic.com/214ultz.jpg

[Karl]

I also love this film. I view it as an alchemical fairytale which warns of losing one's humanity and compassion in the pursuit of the essence. For awhile my significant other worried she might end up as subject on my lab table.

[MarkostheGnostic]

I also love this film. I view it as an alchemical fairytale which warns of losing one's humanity and compassion in the pursuit of the essence. For awhile my significant other worried she might end up as subject on my lab table.

:D Poor significant other! I hope you explained it's allegorical nature.

[Karl]

She was responding not to the film but to my fanatical obsession with the work. I've only recently relaxed my fervor- I can understand why she was concerned in retrospect. For awhile there was nothing more important than the quest.

[annabelle_lee]

All right, I realize that most folks thought/may think that this movie is silly and nigh impossible. However I adore the mind-fuck slant the film has, and can defintely see the entirety of the process of transmutation represented, even as I read it on Wikipedia.org Defintely want to see this film now!