Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

Perfume, first of all, could have won an academy award for best cinematography. It does a fascinating job of capturing scent. The film so heavily focuses on sensuality, it offers not only an intense experience visually, but for literally all of the senses. The music stirs emotion, wind feels breezy, and you can smell flowers. Yet the entertainment value is not lost beneath the art for those who are less appreciative.

Perfume is a time period piece based off of a novel (that I haven't read). It is about an unusual boy with a gift for scent and a fierce wish to learn how to capture it. It is strange because content-wise it is a violent serial killer movie but it doesn't feel like one. I walked away from it instilled with a beautiful perception of the world and feeling sympathetic for the murderer/main character. I think that some people are a vessel for love that is so extreme that it manifests into darkness. And this film is a lovely example of that.

Sometimes I find time period pieces to be too dull or realistic but this one wasn't. I think the charming narration and fictitious atmosphere helped with that. It is told in a fairy-tale-like manner despite the heavy, dark undertones.