Trouble Every Day (2001)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Claire Denis

Writers:

Claire Denis (writer)
Jean-Pol Fargeau (writer)

Release Date:

11 July 2001 (France)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

The ability to love. The inability to love... The hunger to love.

Plot:

Shane and June Brown are an American couple honeymooning in Paris in an effort to nurture their new life together...

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Medical Clinic | Hotel | Bathroom | Medicine

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Vincent Gallo	...	Shane
Tricia Vessey	...	June
Béatrice Dalle	...	Coré
Alex Descas	...	Léo
Florence Loiret	...	Christelle (as Florence Loiret-Caille)
Nicolas Duvauchelle	...	Erwan
Raphaël Neal	...	Ludo
José Garcia	...	Choart
Hélène Lapiower	...	Malécot
Marilu Marini	...	Friessen
Aurore Clément	...	Jeanne
Bakary Sangaré	...	Night Guard
Lionel Goldstein	...	Receptionist
Céline Samie	...	Woman in Bra
Arnaud Churin	...	Truck Driver

Also Known As:

Gargoyle (Japan: English title)

Runtime:

101 min | Argentina:102 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

France | Germany | Japan

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Hungary:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Italy:VM14 | Argentina:18 | France:-16 | Japan:R-15 | Singapore:R21 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Australia:R | Brazil:18

Company:

Arte

Trivia:

The title of this film comes from a Frank Zappa song of the same name from the album "Freak Out!"

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: At time-stamp 56:49, a face (presumably the crew since no one is in the house) can be seen reflected in the glass door/window on the right of the screen.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Snuff: A Documentary About Killing on Camera (2008)

Unique and Poetic

I was tired and ready for bed but my curiosity got the better of me and I put the DVD in, expecting just to watch a few minutes. 1 & 1/2 hours later the film was over and I didn't want it to be.

Trouble Every Day is a haunting vision of desire gone haywire. Light on story and big on aesthetics, the film moves silently like a sensual and terrible dream. You've got to hand it to Claire Denis - it could have all gone horribly wrong were it not for her ability to set just the right poetic tone and mood.

This film is lovely to look at and the camera work is captivating. There is such suspense when the camera follows the back of the chambermaid's neck. The lack of dialog is so hypnotic that when characters began speaking it was an unwelcome jolt. This was especially true of Vincent Gallo (Shane) whose whiny voice is strangely at odds with his intense and unique looks. Beatrice Dalle is perfect as Core who is more animal than human. Her one speaking line says everything you need to know about her character. There was not a moment that I didn't fully believe Core's plight and pity and fear her.

When the movie begins Core has already completely succumbed to the unexplained sickness that Shane spends most of the film trying to suppress. Core is locked indoors all day in an attempt to prevent her from killing but she finds her way out and eventually the prey comes to her.

The two much talked about cannibalism scenes occur pretty late in the film and are worthy of the fuss -they are stunning.

There isn't enough plot development to figure out exactly what is happening to these people or why. There could have been a bit more explanation but the ambiguity makes everything a bit creepier.

Then I went to bed and you can only imagine my dreams.