An adaptation of one of the most interesting books Ive heard of, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is a macabre, bright, engaging and surprisingly relatable film. I didn't know much about the story before seeing this film, but have been told that it stays very true to the book throughout. In some senses I would say too true to the book, especially in the final sequence which lets this superb film down. Grenouille is a boy with an incredible sense of smell, and Perfume tells the incredible tale of his life, with help from a narrator. As a young orphan he is hired by a tanning yard, but escapes into a world of fabulous smells when he entangles himself with a failing perfumer in Paris and becomes his apprentice. The film is very visual, with the plot mostly advanced by the narration. It attempts to draw you into the world of scents, and I'm told it doesn't achieve the same heights as the book, but I found it incredibly engaging.Perfume captures old world Paris in all its grime, squalor and splendour, making the film dark at times. I found it an immense improvement when Grenouille travels to Grasse - the perfume capital of France, and a provincial town. The scenery becomes bright and rustic and brings a happier light to an otherwise quite dark film. You find yourself drawn right into Grenouille's psyche and understanding, even excusing, his terrible actions. The premise is so interesting and has such great potential, which I think is let down by the final sequence of the film, but I wont spoil it for you! Even so, the rest of the movie easily overshadows the last section and it is still a great watch. '