"Difficult Death" (La mort difficile) was written in the era of Man Ray, Montparnasse, absinthe and post-war decadence in 1926 by Surrealist poet Rene Crevel. It is a portrait of such resounding examination into relationships that it was described by Crevel's contemporary, the painter Salvador Dali, as "a new bombshell in the genre of confrontation."
Adapted and directed by Jocelyn Marquis, "Difficult Death" is the English language version of this dark French love story which has been transposed to the timeless setting of New Orleans, Louisiana. Marquis tells the story of a painter, Pierre Dumont, who in the course of his art school adventures meets Arthur, a poet and transgendered composer who fled New York on a barge. Arthur lives the free and exciting life of the artist and is beyond the reproach of anyone. Pierre envies and admires the lifestyle he reveals to him, and the two quickly become lovers. His mother, the sinister Madame Dumont, despises their union, and criticizes Pierre for his "degenerate" lifestyle. Pierre's dilemma is underscored by her affections for Diane, a gentle painting student and his closest friend. While Diane would willingly spend her life with him, Pierre longs for the excitement and freedom Arthur represents. He slowly unravels, confounded by the dichotomy of love and passion, and struggles to reconcile his affection for Diane with his intense need for Arthurs devotion.
