Perfume

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Tue 6 February 2007 // 20:00 *

(Tue 6th – Thu 8th / 8pm / £4/3/2ttt)
(Tom Tykwer / 2006 / USA-Germany / 35mm / 145 mins / Cert 15)

Patrick Susskind’s book was not only one of the best-selling novels of the 1980s, but also a potential hot property for filmmakers. As well as having a compelling storyline (a serial killer makes perfume from the body parts of his victims) there was also the challenge of how to make a film from a book that contained little dialogue and revolved around the non-cinematic idea of smell. Thankfully, Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) has avoided the temptation to go down the road of scratch and sniff cards, and has turned in one of the most innovative costume dramas in ages.