Holy Lola (2004)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Bertrand Tavernier

Writers:

Dominique Sampiero (writer)
Bertrand Tavernier (writer)

Release Date:

24 November 2004 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Bribery | Male Female Relationship | Motorcycle | Sterility | Love

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jacques Gamblin	...	Dr. Pierre Ceyssac
Isabelle Carré	...	Géraldine Ceyssac
Bruno Putzulu	...	Marco Folio
Lara Guirao	...	Annie
Frédéric Pierrot	...	Xavier
Maria Pitarresi	...	Sandrine Folio
Jean-Yves Roan	...	Michel
Séverine Caneele	...	Patricia
Gilles Gaston-Dreyfus	...	Yves Fontaine
Anne Loiret	...	Nicole
Philippe Saïd	...	Bernard
Vongsa Chea	...	Docteur Sim Duong
Pridi Phath	...	Monsieur Sokhom
Neary Kol	...	Kim Saly
Rithy Panh	...	Monsieur Khieu

Runtime:

France:128 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English | Italian | Khmer

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:o.Al. | Brazil:12 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Cambodia

Company:

Little Bear

Trivia:

Visa d'exploitation en france : #106379

Bertrand Tavernier's 2004 vintage

Doctor Pierre Sézac (Jacques Gamblin) and his wife Géraldine (Isabelle Carré) a childless couple leave for Cambodgia to adopt one. When they arrive there, a real obstacle course awaits for them. Countless, various problems surface, wanderings from orphanages to orphanages amount to nothing and the courage and love of the young couple is put to a serious test.

When I was in my first year at university, I remember that one of my courses was entitled reading comprehension and for my exams, the topic of this course was based on a conversation between a man and a woman who talked about this widely talked about society phenomenon that is children adoption in Southern Asia. The two protagonists particularly insisted on the testing process that parents had to go through to get their beloved one. Bertrand Tavernier confirms in images and in this harrowing story, the meandering road the Sézac couple take to satisfy their desire to adopt children. This giant in French cinema who has keep on producing varied great works for more than thirty years is a true auteur whose sincerity and commitment about a prickly topic is never questionable. Such is once again the case here with this film that is based on true facts. The difficulties, the problems which the Sézac couple comes up against may seem numerous and exaggerated. One can't help but think that there are true to life either they are of administrative source or that they involve bribery. Tavernier also pores over the problem of children adoption through the different French couples at the hotel. The adventure the Sézac couple has is their common adventure in which chance and fate can smile or leave them at any time. If one can be destabilized by the didactic even documentary side of the venture, one can't deny its strong heartfelt vibe.

The background is also essential. Tavernier voluntarily chose a gritty tone and found place in his film to shake the viewer's nerves in front of Cambodgia ravaged by misery, war (some sequences showcase some soldiers clearing of mines a part of the country), shameful traffics which constitute a serious break to child adoption.

"Holy Lola" is a momentous work for two reasons: Tavernier added one more worthwhile piece of work to his own Aladdin's cave and also a work destined to the mainstream to make them realize of the hard process of child adoption. All the future parents who contemplate this step should have a look at it. And not only them but all those who are fond of topnotch French cinema.