Va Savoir (Who Knows?)
(2001)
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Va Savoir (Who Knows?)
(2001)
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| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jeanne Balibar | ... |
Camille B.
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Marianne Basler | ... |
Sonia
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| Hélène de Fougerolles | ... |
Dominique 'Do'
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Catherine Rouvel | ... |
Madame Desprez
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| Sergio Castellitto | ... |
Ugo
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Jacques Bonnaffé | ... |
Pierre
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| Bruno Todeschini | ... |
Arthur
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Claude Berri | ... |
Librarian
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Attilio Cucari | ... |
Salter
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Bettina Kee | ... |
Mop
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Luciana Castellucci | ... |
Lena
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Emanuele Vacca | ... |
Salesio
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Arturo Armone Caruso | ... |
Bruno
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Valeria Cavalli | ... |
Ines
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Fausto Maria Sciarappa | ... |
Silvio
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The theatre world is a familiar setting for the films of Rivette. In Va savoir, the characters, all quick-witted, well-read and cultured types, revolve around each other in a delightful potpourri of theatre, romance and theft. In the end, everything lands on its feet and they all get the partner they deserve, but before then, long filmer Rivette takes two and a half hours to dwell lightly on the vicissitudes around the six protagonists. Camille is an actress with an Italian company that is in Paris to perform a play by Pirandello, Come tu mi vuoi. Her boyfriend Ugo is the director and the company's most important actor. Both have a hidden agenda for their trip to Paris: Camille meets her ex Pierre, a professor of philosophy, while Ugo is secretly researching a supposedly lost play by Goldoni. In the archives, he is assisted by the charming student Do, who steals his heart. In turn, Do has a link with Pierre: her stepbrother, the playwright Arthur, namely steals an expensive ring from ... Written by Anonymous
Va savoir is a film that could be skipped by someone living in New
York City, Chicago, or Los Angeles. We get only a handful of
French films each year in Upstate New York, and I try to see them
all. At 154 minutes, this movie does tend to run on. Still, the
legendary Jacques Rivette is known for his l*o*n*g running times;
he probably considers this 2 1/2 hour film to be a short.
I have noticed that the great majority of people who rated the film
are men. This surprises me, because there is nothing about Va
Savoir that would make it a traditionally "men's film." I would think
people of either gender would be pleased that all three female
leads are presented as capable women leading productive
lives--actor, dance teacher, graduate student. Rivette has chosen
three women who are fascinating to watch on the screen; this to
me was the strength of the film. I think the men fared less well--in
fact, it is hard to believe that three such competent and attractive
women would be drawn to men who appeared (at least to me) to
be far inferior to them. (One character--Arthur--probably has
anti-social personality disorder, is a compulsive gambler and has
incestuous feelings towards his sister. Other than that he's OK.)
My suggestion--don't go to this film expecting "Rules of the Game," but see it because it is French, it is directed by Jacques Rivette,
and it gives ample screen time to three excellent female actors.