Night rain is drizzling on the streets of Paris. A man’s corpse is shown, then the camera focuses on a young, naked woman walking. With blood streaming down her legs, she is immediately hospitalized, and her furious uncle dashes out seeking vengeance.This new film, with its noir tendency, is about women’s secret desires and is directed by Claire Denis four years after her White Material (2009). Night is the main backdrop, and desires as dark and sticky as the night itself pervade the film. Do not expect or think of this film as an extension of Denis’ previous work, which connects with her childhood in Africa. From the very first sequence, a general atmosphere of ambiguity is dominant, and some French press commented that this work adopted Bmovies’ shooting methods and narrative style. Nevertheless, Denis says this is something she has been keeping in her mind for many years, so isn’t that interesting enough? Bastards was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival this year. (RHEE Soue-won)