Cinefranco 2010 - Capsule Reviews

Cinefranco begins today!  Improved with a larger and better selection of French films from the world over and now at a downtown location at the AMC.  Who could ask for more? 

Capsule reviews of 12 of the films to be screened are provided to aid your selection.

Capsule Reviews:

LE COACH (France 2009) ***
Directed by Olivier Doran

A feel-good likeable comedy about two apparent losers!  Chene (Richard Berry) is an expert trainer i.e. LE COACH, but heavily in gambling debt.  His only way out is to coach a problem director, Marmignon (Jean-Paul Rouve) land a large Chinese contract.  Problem is that he must not know he is being coached.  Though the film does not contain many laugh-out loud segments, director Doran does all-right with the manipulative script and comedic set-ups.  Doran gets his audience to root for the underdog, two underdogs in this case, especially when Marmignon learns the ropes to offer his expertise to aid Chne win back his angry wife.  Light entertaining fluff with a thing or two about high French art and culture (Barogue 17th century music) thrown in for good measure.  LE COACH is the typical French comedy that will be remade by Hollywood.

COMPLICES (PARTNERS ) (France/Switzerland 2009) ***
Directed by Frederic Mermoud

Gilbert Melki and Emmanuelle Devos, two of today’s most popular French stars in the same film together is sufficient reason enough to buy a ticket for COMPLICES, a title that is more appropriate than PARTNERS once the film’s ending is revealed.  COMPLICES begins with the body of a young hustler Vince fished out of the River Rhone.  Long time partners Gilbert Melki and Emmanuelle Devos are called in, and they solve the crime fairly efficiently, while uncovering a lot of dirt, especially in the internet pornography trade.  Devos and Melki work well together, and the faint hint of the budding romance between the two adds a welcome tension to the proceedings.  More a drama on human relations than a whodunit – director Mermoud films actual happenings as the detectives uncover the clues with the identity of the killer easily guessed soon enough.  COMPLICES is a satisfactory, gripping social commentary though it lacks the punch and disturbance that a film on this subject usually delivers.  Lots of nudity and sex scenes though!

UN COUER SIMPLE (France 2008) ****

UN COUER SIMPLE follows another tale from perfectionist author of MADAME BOVARY Gustave Flaubert whose expertise is realism.  The heroine here is the faultless maid, Felicite (Sandrine Bonnaire in a tortured performance) resigned to devote her all to the family who hired her.  Bonnaire delivers an unforgettable performance, made more real, likely because she herself devoted her all to aiding her real life autistic sister (she directed a documentary on her ELLE S’APELLE SABINE).  The characters are convincing enough and even the unfeeling ones (marina Fois as the uncaring mistress) are given some emotional leeway at the end.  The period setting and atmosphere add to the tale’s realism.  If Flaubert’s inspirational tale of selfless devotion does not bring tears to your eyes, nothing will.  Of course, director Laine adds on much to the tale.  Felecite’s search for the lost parrot, the parrot then found dead frozen and her falling asleep with the ornamental parrot and so on….  Still, UN COUER SIMPLE is moving enough as entertainment.  And who doesn’t like a good cry, even now and then?  Bring lots of Kleenex!

EDEN A L’OUEST (EDEN IS WEST) (Fr/Greece/Italy 2008) **
Directed by Costa-Gavras

Greek Master director Costa-Gavras’ film of illegal immigrant Elias’ (Riccardo Scamarcio) odyssey from refugee boat to Paris is more a road trip adventure than anything else.  Swimming to shore after the boat is discovered, Elias hides in a beach resort called Eden.  Various adventures take Elias on a light affair with one elder German tourist, a ride with a bickering couple, yet another ride with a trucker and various chases with the cops.  The strangers Elias meet range from sympathetic, couldn’t careless and unbelievably helpful.  Though it is clear that Costa-Gavras intends Elias’ journey to be one of learning and a coming-of-age experience, his film misses on many points, resulting in a barely entertaining filled with over sentiment. 

LES HAUTS MERS (THE HIGH WALLS) (France 2008) ****
Directed by Christian Faure

This shocking but necessarily violent autobiography of young 14-year old Yves Tréguier (Emile Berling) set in a brutal juvenile home begins unlikely enough with an optimistic morning opening scene by the beach.  Yves happily runs towards the beckoning sea only to be captured by the waiting authorities and brought back to the juvenile detention.  Faure’s film is lit dimly from then on only with a very few select scenes of light – when Yves stares out of the prison walls, yearning for freedom.  The first act of the film depicts the hard life in store for the young ‘offender’ while the rest of the film illustrates the courage, not only of Yves but for the others, especially for the older boy, Blondeau (Guillame Gouix), charged with looking after Yves.  Not all survive in the harsh environment.  When the sensitive ‘fil de fir’ hangs himself, a visit by his distraught mother (Carole Bouquet) causes Blondeau to ultimately lose it.  Faure has created an immensely moving tale of survival.  The film’s most moving moment is one young inmate outburst speech that ‘no child is born a thief!’ The kid is then hit violently on the head by the prison chief and put into solitary.  The film echoes the speech given by a dedicated teacher in the memorable classroom scene in Francois Truffaut’s L’ARGENT DE POCHE on the injustice done to children.  LES HAUTS MERS is an unforgettable film and the scary thing is that most of the living conditions depicted existed.

LA JOURNEE DE LA JUPE (SKIRT DAY) (France/Belgium 2008) ***1/2
Directed by Jean-Paul Lilienfeld

LA JOURNEE DE LA JUPE takes the teacher in a hostile classroom drama, last seen in ENTRE LES MURS one step further.  Angry and frustrated teacher Sonia Bergerac (Isabelle Adjani) holds her unruly class hostage and gives the kids a hard time for a change.  Brutal and violent, Lilienfeld’s film has quite a bit to say about the French educational system.  Those in the teaching profession would definitely have a field day watching this movie.  Sonia is a rebellious employee as well, insisting on wearing a skirt to school.  But the film ends up taking on far too many issues that it can handle from rape, racism, immigration, bullying.  Still, LA JOURNEE DE LA JUPE is a compelling film from start to finish, thanks primarily to the excellent performance of Adjani.  Nominated for Best film and actress Cesar 2010 awards!

REFRACTAIRE (ARTFUL DODGER) (Luxembourg/Switz 2009) ***1/2
Directed by Nicolas Steil

When Luxembourg was annexed by Germany, the people had a choice to collaborate by sending their children to fight with the German army in the front or to send their children into hiding in the underground mines.  21-year old François (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet) is sent into hiding after his father, a collaborator is killed.  But those underground distrust him, giving him a hard time.  François has no alternative but prove his loyalty through courage and sheer determination.  Though the film stretches the story’s credibility at the start with too many events occurring, Steil’s film eventually settles down with a stronger narrative towards its second act.  The cinematography and sets are impressive with the atmosphere of impending danger effectively created throughout.  The violence and sex (yes, François gets his share) are kept to a minimum and done tastefully.

LA REGATE (BOAT RACE) (Belgium/France 2008) ****
Directed by Bernard Bellefroid

The coach (Sergi Lopez) tells 15-year old Alex (a remarkable performance from young Joffrey Verbruggen) it takes courage and willpower to win a boat race.  But that is the least of Alex’s worries.  He lives with an abusive father who if not beating him up is forcing him to work odd hours to miss training.  Alex rebels against everyone including his girlfriend and coach while taking his rowing over-seriously.  If all this sounds like a typical coming-of-age story, Bellefroid’s film rises way above its material.  Belleford’s characters are emotional, real and brutal.  Yet, he shows the human and weak side of each character, even the father who the audience sees, as one who desperately wants his son’s love but incapable of reciprocating it.  LE RAGATE is a marvellous and remarkable film that truly reflects the theme of the film’s series on the courage of youth.

UNE SEMAINE SUR DEUX (ET LA MOITIE DES VACANCES SCOLAIRES)
(France 2009) ****
Directed by Ivan Calberac

ALTERNATE WEEK, the short English title of this surprisingly effective comedy tells the demise of the 2 children from divorced parents. 12-year old Lea and her younger brother spend alternate weeks with their successful real-estate business mum (Mathilde Seigner) and their recently unemployed psychologist dad (Bernard Campan).  What is expected in a film with such a theme are all present – the parents’ resentment and guilt; the children’s dream of their folks coming back together; their disapproval of their parents’ new dates; the parents’ counselling and so on.  But this drama comedy is utterly charming and takes an unusual route.  What more charm, for example, can come from the scene when the gifted young brother plays a piano piece that he composed for his mother at Christmas?  Calberac adds his take on many issues such as dating.  Example: “A decent date is a concept…” but his belief that a family in two parts is still a family works wonders in this film’s message of hope for all the majority of children in the world with separated parents.

SOEUR SOURIR (SISTER SMILE) (France/Belgium 2009) ****
Directed by Stijn Coninx
Everyone has heard of the catchy French 1963 hit song Dominique performed by the Singing Nun.  In fact a film has been made years back with Debbie Reynolds in the title role in the film entitled THE SINGING NUN.  In director Stijn Coninx’s hands, the biopic of Jeanine (a brilliant yet sympathetic performance by Ceceille De France), soars at times to inspirational heights.  She is told to follow her heart, but when Jeanine stands up against authority which includes her own mother, the Mother Superior and the loves of her life, she is let down.  Again guided by God, she finally persists in her beliefs and succeeds in her lifelong goal in helping the children of Africa.  Dominque, the song is most beautiful in French, than say, translated to Flemish or English.  The story of the life of SISTER SMILE or SOUER SOURIR is no masterpiece but it is given its full credit by the French in a film that will bring both smiles and tears to your face. 

TRICHEUSE (SO WOMAN!) (FAKING IT!) (France 2009) ***
Directed by Jean-Francois Davy

Trust the French to make a real family comedy about a family who needs a family.  Clemence (Hélène de Fougerolles) needs to show that she is married in order to live in a posh apartment.  Her piano tuner, Farid (Zinedine Soualem) who happens to be around when the landlord appears is coerced by her to be the husband.  One thing leads to another with Farid’s daughters moving in altogether.  As it turns out, the daughters are really adopted and every single member needs familial love in this comedy of good intentions.  Clemence’s mother (the excellent Mylène Demongeot, who has not been seen on screen for some time) also appears after 35 years of absence to make amends.  Director Davy blends in other current issues such as corrupt political practices, racism and true romance.  But the most important message here is to do what is right and Director Davy has done right as well with his comedy of manners.

WELCOME (France 2009) ****
Directed by Philippe Lioret

Multiple Cesar (French Oscars) nominated film about a swimming coach, Simon (Vincent Lindon) training an Kurd illegal immigrant, Bilal (Firat Ayverdi) swim the English Channel so that he can reunite with his girlfriend in London, England.  Director Lioret takes his film seriously, covering the sensitive issues of romance, racism and survival, though the film leans against the French anti-immigration policies. But it is the brutal inhuman treatment of human beings of another race that makes the film so disturbing.  Lioret has done his homework on the subject and the first part of his film has a scary realism to what these illegals will try, risking their lives) in their desperation for a better life.  Romance is thrown in with Simon winning the respect of his social worker wife as he takes a stand on what he believes in.  WELCOME was a huge hit when it opened in France early 2009 and it is not difficult to see why!