ralph.theijs Reviews

Comedy of Power (2006)

Chabrol back on form and back in Paris

[9/10 · 28 August 2006]

You don't HAVE to know the ELF-scandal to appreciate this, but it helps. Not long ago I asked my french prof at the Alliance Francaise to explain these funny french scandals (ELF through Clearstream 2) and he had to abstain: too complicated, even for a native Frenchman.

The company is called FMG in the film: just as Kubrick went down a letter in the alphabet to go from IBM to HAL, Chabrol goes up a letter in the alphabet to go from ELF to FMG. Nice touch! On the other hand, the cigar in the cognac was a tad overdone, to my tastes.

Huppert confirms once again she is in a class all of her own. Rest of the cast, Berléand, Canto, Vernier, Duclos (!); all solid.

For the very hardest core of french movie buffs only: did anyone else recognize the two guards – one bald, the other dark-haired – as Chabrol's homage to Zardi et Attal who did numerous duo's like this for him and other directors? Best Chabrol in years, but my judgment may be a bit colored: after 30 Chabrols, this was the first I saw in a theater instead of on my couch.

Au bout du rouleau (2002 TV Movie)

Very Conrad-esque

[7 May 2003]

Although transposed to modern times, IMHO this captures the spirit of Conrad's work completely. I did not read the book this was based on, but the Conrad-feeling is all there. Bohringer is very well cast here, as well as Bonnaffé. A must-see for Conrad-fans.

Qui plume la lune? (1999)

Funny and sensitive all in one

[23 April 2002]

Beautiful, bitter-sweet little tale about a father, kept on his feet by his two daughters, after his wife/their mother, has died, manages to avoid all the tearjerker-pitfalls. His sorrow, the way they take care of him, the sisters' growing apart and him being both unable to be a strong parent and to let go of them, all shown in a very subtle yet funny way.

Darroussin specializes in sensitive roles and this is one of his best yet.

And the musical theme (Letkiss, a 60's novelty hit for a Finnish trumpeter(!)) lingered in my ears for weeks.