Jean Cau, born in 1925 in Bram, Aude, was a French writer known for his provocative narratives. He penned the screenplay for Don Juan or If Don Juan Were a Woman (1973), a film that challenges traditional notions of gender and desire through its playful reinterpretation of the Don Juan myth. His work reflects a unique blend of literary prowess and cultural critique, making him a notable figure in the realm of exploitation cinema. Cau's writings, infused with a neopagan perspective, resonate with the film's exploration of identity and seduction.
Don Juan or If Don Juan Were a Woman
Jeanne lives in Paris and believes she is the reincarnation of Don Juan. She visits a priest and tells him she has killed a man. He comes to her elegant flat - her father has died leaving her rich - and she tells the priest stories about men she has seduced. The seduction is easy, she tells him, it's destruction that takes planning. We watch her with an upright elected official, a wealthy boor, and a folk singer. She describes herself as a spider. Her friend Léporella tries to be Jeanne's conscience. What does Jeanne want?
