Fiction, reality, personal life, and union struggles all intertwine during the complicated shoot of a politically committed film, whose director, nearing the end of his career, must manage to complete at all costs despite the co-production's withdrawal.
« Making Of », directed with a sure hand by the eclectic Cédric Kahn, is not the first example of « a film team filming a film team » at work, far from it, but it proves to be one of the best of the genre.
Among its (many) strengths are a very well-structured screenplay, a subtle narrative (which regularly rekindles the action when the repetition of situations could lead to weariness), a fruitful blend of objectivity and subjectivity, interesting reflections on cinema (by those who make it and on the expectations of those who watch it), social struggles and their fictional representation, as well as an outstanding cast ensemble.
Highly stimulating for the mind, "Making Of" proves even better (because less systematic) than its otherwise excellent predecessors, like Cukor's "A Double Life" or Cayatte's "The Lovers of Verona." Kahn indeed do not simply STATE that art mirrors life and the reverse, he makes us FEEL it. On more than one occasion indeed, the viewer doesn't know whether they're on the film set, within the film itself, in its making-of, in a dream, or in the past during the occupation of the closed factory by its laid-off workers. A little mental work is therefore required, which the lazy viewer will reject but which will delight those who appreciate a call to their intelligence.
Among an altogether perfect cast, playing complex characters, never descending into caricature (even when they verge on it), are to be mentioned Denis Podalydès as Simon, the harried director, Emmanuelle Bercot as the exasperated production manager, Xavier Beauvois as the less-than-reliable executive producer, Jonathan Coen in an atypical role as a star with an oversized ego (but not just that...), Stefan Crepon as a young, up-and-coming director, and Souheila Yacoub as a fledgling actress facing her first major part. Special mention goes to Valérie Donzelli in the supporting role of the director's ex-partner, whom she portrays with finesse.
It's worth noting that the DVD, while featuring a bonus interview with the director and actors, doesn't offer any... making-of! Too bad, the making-of of a film entitled "Making-of" where we see the aforementioned making-of being filmed-now that would have been fun!
