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Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Crime · Fantasy · Drama · 2006

Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in the stench of 18th century Paris, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. However, his work takes a dark turn as he tries to preserve scents in the search for the ultimate perfume.

Movie details

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

“Obsession can cause the unthinkable.”

2006 Crime · Fantasy · Drama 2h 27m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in the stench of 18th century Paris, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. However, his work takes a dark turn as he tries to preserve scents in the search for the ultimate perfume.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Perfume: The Story of a Murderer?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Tom Tykwer

Written by

Bernd Eichinger · Tom Tykwer · Andrew Birkin

Ben Whishaw

Ben Whishaw

Jean-Baptiste Grenouille

Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman

Richis

Rachel Hurd-Wood

Rachel Hurd-Wood

Laura

Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Hoffman

Giuseppe Baldini

John Hurt

John Hurt

Narrator (voice)

Karoline Herfurth

Karoline Herfurth

The Plum Girl

David Calder

David Calder

Bishop of Grasse

Court is in session

Put Perfume: The Story of a Murderer on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.