Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Roy Hart If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

framptonhollis One description of 'Belle de jour' that I read described the film, at some point, as being like a daydream. Nothing could be closer to the truth. Bunuel, Bunuel, Bunuel! One of cinema's all time greats, and a personal favorite filmmaker of mine for a few years now! 'Belle de jour' may be his greatest masterpiece, although I personally do prefer the likes of 'L'age d'Or', 'Viridiana', and 'Simon of the Desert', I feel like 'Belle de jour' can certainly be considered the most genuinely high quality film in his prolific and more than impressive cinematic oeuvre. It contains many of the elements that make Bunuel such a beloved and brilliant artist; the humor is there, the tragedy/drama is there, the strange sexual content is there, and the classic sense of surrealism all his greatest films have utilized so wonderfully is perfected here. This is Bunuel at the top of his game, blurring the already-blurry lines between cinematic fantasy and cinematic reality, playing w/flashbacks and dream sequences and never keeping absurdity out of the question no matter the setting or situation. And sexuality is portrayed with as much confusion and wild surrealist hijinks as is necessary when attempting to explore such a mess of a topic. Few filmmakers (or artists, whether they be authors or painters or whatever, for that matter) can depict sexuality quite like Bunuel can. 'Belle de jour' harkens back to Bunuel's much earlier masterpiece, 'L'age d'Or', which depicted sex w/a raging sort of surrealist accuracy that struck something in people, turning them angrily against him and his work, making them set fires to some cinemas in which it played, banning his obscene and blasphemous black comedy of horrors, and 'Belle de jour' may strike a similar emotional reaction to those of a more archaic sensibility, and the same energy said archaic-types may muster up in response may be utilized by film lovers across the globe to tear their hearts out in gripping love and admiration for Bunuel and this fantastical film!

daphnexulu Bunuel delivers a beautiful story through symbolism, dream sequences and complex character narrative. Belle de Jour- on the surface -could be viewed as an "easy watch", yet digging deeper it hints at the surrealistic values of the director. Although this is regarded as one of Bunuel''s most popular films, I feel it lacks the depth and value that his earlier films boast. Though it is a classic, I don't think it's a masterpiece. This film is a great watch for both those studying film or seeking entertainment.

Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de) "Belle de jour" is a novel-based co-production between France and Italy that result in this (mostly) French-language film from 1967. This means it has its 50th anniversary this year and thanks to that, several theaters here in Germany (Berlin) decided to being the film back to the big screen. First of all, I want to say that I love this decision. I wish they could bring back many old films again to theaters as I believe it is an entirely different experience to see that film at a theater than to see it at home. Unless you're a millionaire and have your own theater room in your mansion. But for everybody who doesn't, it is a unique opportunity and looking at how packed the theater today was, I am sure that many will agree and that the argument that people would not watch old films on the big screen again is simply incorrect.Now, lets take a look at this one here. Let me say first that I have not read the novel by Joseph Kessel before seeing this one. I also have not seen the film before today's viewing, it was a first time watch. And I guess I enjoyed it. The director and writer was Luis Buñuel and he was already in his late 60s when he made this one, so you can certainly say that new ideas can come to life in old shells. Looking at how sexual and free-spirited the movie is, it is easy to say that Buñuel was way ahead of his time back in the 1960s when people were still prudes, at least when it comes to sexuality in films. The lead actress is Catherine Deneuve and while I am usually definitely more into brunettes and dark-haired women, I cannot deny that she was pretty attractive in here. However, they also certainly knew how to put her in the right position, for example when we see her in an expensive coat and the two other prostitutes next to hear wear nothing but underwear, even if she was one of them.Now I mentioned prostitutes already: Yep this is a movie that takes place mostly inside a brother during its 100 minutes running time. It is about a woman who is not satisfied sexually by her very kind very charming man, but she needs what you may want to call a strong hand to tame her somehow. Or a special place where she can fulfill her sexual desires. Oh my, this sounds like 50 Shades of Grey doesn't it. Not intentional. Anyway, the brother is certainly pretty exclusive as wealthy businessmen and doctors join the girls as "customers" who want to explore their forbidden desires too (masochism e.g.). But the protagonist has more of an interest in a career criminal and not a small-time thug, but a brutal gangster actually. It becomes a relationship with deadly consequences in the end. One of the more interesting aspects of this film is certainly how the line between reality and the central character's fantasies gets more and more blurry and at the very end when we see the injured man suddenly get out of his wheelchair as if it was nothing, there is basically a complete mix-up. I also quite liked the last shot back to the sound and images of the carriage because this was where it all began with her fantasies.Finally, I want to say that the film needed a little while to really get me interested, but finally it was a fairly decent viewing I would say. It certainly gets better the longer it goes. I would not consider it an epic as many do today (I still read a description about a newer film recently where it is called a modern "Belle de jour"), but it's for sure among the better films of the 1960s. I know they showed some restored version, but boy did it look modern. But not in a bad way as it did not take away any of the film's charm I am sure. So yeah if you like Deneuved and still haven't seen it (which sounds like a really unlikely possibility because it is one of her trademark films, then you really need to see this one, preferably on a big screen. But even if you aren't a big Deneuve fan (neither am I), it is still worth checking out and be it only to show theaters that you want to see old films on the big screen because next up may be one of your very favorites. Go for it. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Kirpianuscus nothing different, in essence, by his other films. and nothing common. the speech remains the same. but the magic, the story as support for provocative images, the refined beauty as tool for a clear manifesto are good points in this case about marriage, bourgeoisie values, love, freedom and choices. it is difficult to explain the roots of a Bunuel film and, in same measure , it is not easy to understand, in a time of Hollywood blockbusters, his message. enough could be to admire Catherine Deneuve, the old fashion eroticism and to imagine the significance of scenes. it is portrait of a period and this does it real special. it has admirable forms of poetry, mystery and a form of seduction who remains a great challenge. so, it is not complicated to ignore than this film, like each film of Luis Bunuel, is a talk to you. a personal message. this is the essence in the case of "Belle de Jour".