Not since Patrice Chereau's La Reine Margot (Queen Margot) has there been a French film that is as brutal, sexy and seductive at Cristophe Gans' exquisitely crafted Le Pacte des Loups (Brotherhood of the Wolf).

Brotherhood of the Wolf was a huge hit with European audiences (with more than 5 million French cinephiles flocking to it) and will definitely satisfy the appetite of local audiences.

Set in 1765, "Wolf" is based loosely on a historical incident, a series of more than 100 brutal attacks by an unknown animal called the Beast of Gevaudan that understandably terrorised that region in the South of France.  Described by the rare attack survivors as having teeth like knives and weighing more than 500 pounds, the beast is given to making fierce noises and has no visible fear of firearms. When an investigation is launched to capture the beast, the mystery unfolds and draws us into a captivating and thrilling cinematic experience.

The influences of Hollywood (films like 'The Matrix' and 'Sleepy Hollow') and Asia (particularly Hong Kong director John Woo) and luscious French cinema are evident and shockingly decadent in its execution.

Gans spectacularly fuses his inspiration into a feast for the eye; his vigorous indulgence is fully explored in the dramatic narrative and stylistic execution. Add to this an endearing romantic plot infused with intriguing mythological, supernatural, Native American folklore and horror elements and you have a rare breed of cinema.

There are some brilliant hardcore action and fighting sequences, excellently choreographed by Hong Kong veteran Philip Kwok (who did the fight scenes for John Woo's "Hard-Boiled");  what makes these scenes exceptional are the settings: when our two heroes confront a band of hooligans it is in the midst of pouring rain in the magnificent French countryside; there is also an equally impressive sequence set in a cavernous underground, strikingly enhanced by candle and firelight. There is an immense charm to the contrasting 

Danish cinematographer Dan Laustsen brilliantly captures Gans' vision; there are certain scenes - particularly those in a cathedral and the bordello - that take your breath away. Momentarily you stare at what appears to be an exquisite painting before being plunged into panic and choas. Laustsen seduces with his lens, capturing the allure, mystery and terror.  There is an immense charm in Laustsen's contrasting imagery, adding to the complex narrative and subplots, strikingly underscored by composer Joseph LoDura . Laustsen was also the cinematographer for 'Darkness Falls' (directed by South African Jonathan Lieberman), as well as 'I am Dina' and 'Nightwatch'.

Vincent Cassell (who was seen as a  campish character in 'Elizabeth' and the villain in Birthday Girl) makes a likeable action hero. He teams up with Hawaii-born martial arts champion Mark Dacascos, who plays his Iroquois companion.

It is a wonderful combination, with Cassell as the cultured Westerner who is confronted with savagery, and Dacascos as the 'savage' who is passionately driven by his instincts. It is this driving force that separates the men when it comes to love; with Cassell protecting his love for the beautiful Emilie Dequenne and Dacascos being drawn to the mysterious 'witchlike' powers of Monica Bellucci.

The film has an immense sensuality in lust and bereavement; the romantic liaisons seduces with its richness, and even a scene of intense mourning is sensually underscored. The sensuality beautifully wraps the horrific subject matter in silk, constantly provoking the audience and evoking a sense of mysticism.

Brotherhood of the Wolf is daring and innovative; few filmmakers would dare to fuse different styles,  genres and cultures with such passion.

Classic, contemporary, traditional and futuristic elements are superbly interwoven to challenge and entertain; the dramatic narrative intrigues up to the last frame, and the grandiose spectacle makes this one of the most enjoyable films to indulge in.

Like rich French cuisine, you will savour each moment and return for seconds.       

Brotherhood of the Wolf is showing exclusively at the Labia in Cape Town; the Labia has a wonderful European quality that contributes to the enjoyment of 'going to the movies', reflecting the café culture where discerning cinephiles gather to chat about film - visit their website www.labia.co.za - it is also available on DVD and video but if you want to experience the full impact of this enthralling French spectacle, don't miss it on the big screen! 

Biography on Christophe Gans

Born in 1960 in Antibes (in the South of France), Christophe Gans became crazy about movies at an early stage. As a teenager, he made a lot of samurai and kung fu super-8 films with his friends. At the end of the seventies, he founded the fanzine "Rhesus Zero" about B-movies. In 1980, he studied at the French cinema school Idhec and directed a short movie called "Silver Slime", a tribute to Mario Bava. In 1982, he founded the magazine "Starfix" and defended directors like David Cronenberg, Dario Argento, Russel Mulcahy, David Lynch, John Carpenter or Sergio Leone. He decided to make movies and directed one of the three parts of Necronomicon (1994) called "The Drowned", then "Crying Freeman" from the famous Japanese manga. Gans created the video collection "HK" devoted to Hong Kong movies. He worked for two years on a free adaptation of Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues under the Sea" but the project failed. In 1999, he was asked to make Pacte des loups, Le (2001) ("Brotherhood of the Wolf") about the Beast of Gévaudan, an unknown animal who killed more than one hundred people in France at the end of 18th century. The movie was released in January 2001 and was a great success (more than five million people saw it).