Les baisers de secours (1989)

Director:

Philippe Garrel

Writers:

Marc Cholodenko (writer)
Philippe Garrel (writer)

Release Date:

4 October 1989 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Acting | Actress | Loyalty | Mother Son Relationship | Casting

Cast

Brigitte Sy	...	Jeanne
Philippe Garrel	...	Mathieu
Louis Garrel	...	Lo
Anémone	...	Minouchette
Maurice Garrel	...	La père de Mathieu
Yvette Etiévant	...	La mère de Mathieu
Jacques Kébadian	...	Paul
Valérie Dréville	...	Josette
Aurélien Recoing	...	Le comédien
Pierre Romans	...	Le metteur en scène de théâtre
Charlotte Clamens	...	L'amie de Jeanne
Laurent Wennig	...	L'amant

Directed by
Philippe Garrel

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Marc Cholodenko		writer
Philippe Garrel		writer

Produced by
Gérard Vaugeois	....	producer

Original Music by
Barney Wilen

Cinematography by
Jacques Loiseleux

Film Editing by
Sophie Coussein

Production Management
Eric Zaouali	....	unit production manager

Sound Department
Daniel Fromaget	....	sound
Alain Garnier	....	sound
Henri Maïkoff	....	sound
Claudine Nougaret	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Joël Germaneau	....	gaffer

Music Department
Michel Akrich	....	music editor
Barney Wilen	....	musician: saxophone

Production Companies

• La Sept
• Les Films de l'Atalante
• Planete et Compagnie

Distributors

• Les Films de l'Atalante (1989) (France) (theatrical)
• Cahiers du Cinéma (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Zeitgeist Films (2009) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Théâtre Gabrielle Dorziat  stage group

Also Known As:

"Emergency Kisses" - International (English title) (festival title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Company:

La Sept

Didn't impressed me the way it could have

"Les Baisers de Secours" ("Emergency Kisses") would be an interesting piece of relevant art when it comes to present an aspect of things that sometimes, not always, concerns the artistic process that involves choices while making a movie. Philiosophical and quite realistic, it's too bad that it's too dry, unfairly pretentious, half interesting. The interest for it fades away quickly and the pessimism of the character takes over, isn't constructive for the movie's actions, uninvolving for the most part.

Mirroring his own life, Philippe Garrel portraits with his real life family (his father Maurice, his son Louis and his then partner Brigitte Sy) the obstacles an film author puts up against while making choices as an artist and as a man. The discussion begins when his wife, a very talented yet insecure actress is refused by her husband to portray a character who is based on herself in his next project. She even tries to persuade the chosen actress to give up the role but she doesn't give reasonable explanations for such. Art isn't perfect, neither does life. Parallel to this, their marriage seems to deteriorate more and more, separation is eminent and comes the problem of finding what love truly means and share their son's love and attention.

This is the kind of story I would love to see because it is real, it happens and I would like to imagine how such process takes place. And if the treatment were comical it would be even better. Family matters mixed with work/film related issues are very hard to conceal; the movie proves that. But why does it all have to be so unclear, so sad and so depressive (and not in a good way)? Mr. Garrel makes deep and existential reflections but he doesn't sustain this string with effectiveness for too long. By the end of the film you'll find yourself bored or with mixed feelings about it. In the end nothing was won, neither the art, neither the family or even this movie.

Technically speaking, despite being beautiful, the black-and-white cinematography evoking traces of the Nouvelle Vague is avoidable. Or at least should be. The dialogs are good while some of the situations are not. Garrel is a better director than as an actor; I didn't feel anything with any of the characters except the father, played by Maurice. His ways of comforting his son, sharing his ideas of love, family, and life are quite positive, meaningful.

One thing is sure: Woody Allen would make something really remarkable with this theme on hands. 5/10