ORCHESTRATOR OF STORMS: THE FANTASTIQUE WORLD OF JEAN ROLLIN: Vraiment Fantastique

“His films explore beauty in a manner that’s completely disconnected from…this prosaic notion of the picturesque. He wrenches beauty out of the grotesque.”

French director Jean Rollin and his works spanning six decades, though spurned in their time, have experienced a resurgence and newfound appreciation in recent years. His films, while rooted in Gothic horror and surrealism, exude sex and violence while simultaneously depicting at-times romantic themes that together culminated into a vibe that could only be described as “Rollin,” leading him to be dubbed an auteur in his own right by some. This new documentary, Orchestrator of Storms: The Fantastique World of Jean Rollin, plunges you headfirst into Rollin’s world, and, for both horror fans who might not be familiar with his work (as I am) as well as veteran Rollin devotees, it is a fantastique world indeed.

Twisted Tales From an Obscure Auteur

Beginning with his birth and early upbringing, the film chronicles Rollin’s life, his influences, and his career in detail from those who knew and admired him. From his mother and her intellectual social circles which included Georges Batailles and other surrealists, to the early films he saw depicting duels in cemeteries and gloomy gardens, to the art of Clovis Trouille, such examinations allow the viewer to peek into the mind of Rollin and understand his work and process in a deeper way. Through interviews with his closest friends, actors from his films, as well as historians and biographers, we’re able to hear his story from those who knew him best. We’re also treated to clips of his early works along with stories of befriending people like Sam Selsky who helped him make his first feature film.

In the late sixties and early seventies, while similar directors such Mario Bava, José Larraz, and Jesús Franco were gaining underground popularity, Rollin was enduring violent and angry reactions to his films. At the time, horror was not a genre industry in France as it was in other countries, with the French New Wave cresting around him. Nonetheless, Rollin continued to make films his way, opting for the surreal and theatrical in contrast to the realism of some of his contemporaries. Appreciative of any praise and driven to gain recognition, Rollin continued to make films until his death in 2010, in addition to producing numerous novels and other written works throughout his life. In his later years, through bootleg DVDs and other means, word began to travel about his films and a cult following emerged, providing Rollin with the fanbase he had longed for and certainly deserved.

As I watched this film, I found myself transfixed, riveted by these films I couldn’t wait to watch but also the history being told. From the amusing to the deeply emotional, every word came from a place of love and admiration for a filmmaker who was so passionate and, despite the dark nature of his work, was also kind and gentle to those close to him.

Yet, at the same time, I couldn’t help but continually pause the film so that I could add each new title mentioned to my ever-growing watchlist. Even as I wrote this review, I stopped and went down a rabbit hole of Trouille’s work to learn more about his influence and grew ever-increasingly fascinated with each piece, a print of whose may or may not be in transit currently.

Conclusion:

As documentaries go, this one hits the mark dead-center. If you know nothing about Jean Rollin and go into this blind, as I did, you are provided with clear information, engaging anecdotes, and clips of Rollin’s films that pull you in and leave you wanting more. If you’re more well-versed in his work, you’ll be pleased to see him cast in such a reverent light and his films discussed with such zeal and ardor that you can’t help wanting to seek them out and binge them as soon as you can. Orchestrator of Storms is a loving tribute that is a must-watch for fans of horror or Euro cult films. For acolytes of Rollin, this film can be a touching walk through the necromantic memories of his career. For newcomers, this might be the start of your next horror obsession.

Orchestrator of Storms is currently streaming on Arrow Player.

Watch Orchestrator of Storms