|
In the Beginning
(2009)
|
| 0Share... |
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: In the Beginning (2009)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
People who liked this also liked...
The Class
(2008)
Drama
Director:
Laurent Cantet
Stars:
François Bégaudeau,
Agame Malembo-Emene,
Angélica Sancio
Carnage
(2011)
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Roman Polanski
Stars:
Jodie Foster,
Kate Winslet,
Christoph Waltz
The Kid with a Bike
(2011)
Drama
Directors:
Jean-Pierre Dardenne,
Luc Dardenne
Stars:
Thomas Doret,
Cécile De France,
Jérémie Renier
Babel
(2006)
Drama
Director:
Alejandro González Iñárritu
Stars:
Brad Pitt,
Cate Blanchett,
Mohamed Akhzam
Drama
Director:
Philippe Lioret
Stars:
Vincent Lindon,
Firat Ayverdi,
Audrey Dana
The Ides of March
(2011)
Drama
Director:
George Clooney
Stars:
Ryan Gosling,
George Clooney,
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Shame
(2011)
Drama
Director:
Steve McQueen
Stars:
Michael Fassbender,
Lucy Walters,
James Badge Dale
Don't Worry, I'm Fine
(2006)
Drama
Director:
Philippe Lioret
Stars:
Mélanie Laurent,
Kad Merad,
Isabelle Renauld
In a Better World
(2010)
Drama
Director:
Susanne Bier
Stars:
Mikael Persbrandt,
Wil Johnson,
Markus Rygaard
Adventure
|
Drama
|
History
Director:
Peter Weir
Stars:
Colin Farrell,
Mark Strong,
Jim Sturgess
Of Gods and Men
(2010)
Drama
|
History
Director:
Xavier Beauvois
Stars:
Lambert Wilson,
Michael Lonsdale,
Olivier Rabourdin
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| François Cluzet | ... |
Philippe Miller /
Paul
|
|
| Emmanuelle Devos | ... |
Stéphane
|
|
| Gérard Depardieu | ... |
Abel
|
|
| Soko | ... |
Monika
|
|
| Vincent Rottiers | ... |
Nicolas
|
|
| Brice Fournier | ... |
Louis
|
|
 |
Stéphan Wojtowicz | ... |
Marty
|
|
|
Patrick Descamps | ... |
Bollard
|
|
|
Stéphane Jobert | ... |
Patrick
|
|
|
Eric Herson-Macarel | ... |
Barracher
|
|
|
Patrick Bonnel | ... |
Cadre CGI
|
|
|
François Loriquet | ... |
Cadre CGI
|
|
|
Nathalie Boutefeu | ... |
Marie
|
|
|
Frank Andrieux | ... |
Pascal
(as Franck Andrieux)
|
|
|
Corinne Masiero | ... |
Corinne
|
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
France, present day. A professional conman passes himself off as the boss of a construction site building a highway extension. He cons the whole region, hires dozens of workers and cynically enjoys the profits of his scam until he meets the lady mayor of a small village that the road will go through. She intrigues and unsettles him, before revealing to him a world he never knew: feelings. How far will he go now to save his victims and save himself from his own lies? Written by The Film Catalogue
Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
FranceLanguage:
FrenchRelease Date:
11 November 2009 (France) See more »Also Known As:
In the Beginning See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
|Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
Written by Maurice Tézé and Gérard Gustin
Performed by the Batterie Fanfare de Cambrai
Published by Prosodia
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Based on a true story. See more »Soundtracks
"Incendie à Rio"Written by Maurice Tézé and Gérard Gustin
Performed by the Batterie Fanfare de Cambrai
Published by Prosodia
See more »
Nowadays the French have come up with a renewed 'cinemà verité' formula , but it's based on social issues...ordinary folk, factory workers, union struggles, and the unemployed. Director X.Giannoli is foxy, but NOT as intelligent as he thinks. We are spoon-fed a story which becomes increasingly improbable, but which is sold to us with all the ability of... a con man. In this case, the director himself. Judging by a comment I have just read in this Data Base, he has found at least ONE dupe.... Con-Man stories can be very intriguing, in literature and in movies. Giannoli's skill is in the 'feel' he gives the movie... a truly 'documentary' cut, jerky but subtle photography; unusual actors...mainly the two lead female roles... and , of course, Depardieu whose now customary flabby, and 'whogivesadamn' look and attitude make us believe, and hope, we're in for some serious, provocative cinema. But, alas, things go downhill fast. Chance, and a vaguely comic misunderstanding, lead us up the garden path to a sequel of highly unlikely events (justified by the usual 'based on a true story' prologue). Far from wishing to spoil the potential viewer's curiosity, I shall only say that, as the film draws to a (flimsy) finale.... I, and I am sure , many others, start mentally collecting the highly improbable 'plot points', and end up feeling , well.... frustrated and somewhat cheated. Giannoli has done a variety of good things, but one too many smart ass tricks. The female protagonist is a courageous choice, given her not too graceful appearance. Mr. Cluzet is fine, until he,literally 'bares his teeth', luckily well into the story. The 'rescue scene' is strangely 'Hollywood'; out of keeping with the otherwise fairly austere style chosen by the director. Maybe the first sign that something is awry, comes with the whirling carousel of construction machines, trucks and 'catterpillars' which suddenly spring out of nowhere. Not only do they torment the protagonist, they warn the expert film-buff that he/she is in for a few, not too credible, surprises. Or Rip Offs. And Depardieu? One suspects he was doing the director a little favor here. His two appearances are all too brief and his celluloid 'au-revoir' is downright embarrassing. On an ethical level, too, the film is lost at sea. And those typical printed lines which appear on the black screen as an epilogue, seem to mop up the messy floor that director Giannoli leaves us with, A few sloppy and weak 'explanations'. Have I been too harsh? Maybe. But you see, I don't like being 'conned'.