Tom Fudge: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is a novel by German writer Patrick Sueskind. Now, it is also the name of a film, based on the novel, by German director Tom Tykver. Tykver is known to film buffs as the maker of the stylish and innovative movie, Run Lola Run .
The novel, Perfume , was published in 1985 and it became an international best seller. But filmmakers had shied away from the story because of its gruesome central character, and because its story is about the sense of smell. Needless to say, that’s a pretty difficult sensation to portray in a movie.
The main character in the movie lives in 18 th century Paris. And his superhuman sense of smell causes him to become a murderer. He kills beautiful young women to preserve their scent.
Guest
- Beth Accomando, KPBS film critic
