Displaying items by tag: Adele Exarchoupolis

BEATING HEARTS/ L'AMOUR OUF

France, 2024, 166 minutes, Colour.

Adele Exarchopoulos, François Civil, Malik Frikah, Mallory Wanecque, Alain Chabat, Benoit Poelvoorde, Vincent Lacoste, Anthony Bajon, Elodie Bouchez.

Directed by Gilles Lelouche.

Phew Love.

An unexpected beginning to a review. However, Google tells us that this is the English translation for the French title, Amour Ouf. The English title of Beating Hearts sounds more respectable, rather highlighting the nature of the love between a young man who is afflicted with the name, often mocked, of Clotaire, and Jacqueline, always called Jackie, who live in an industrial city in France.

This is a very long film, 2 ¾ hours, immersing the audience in the atmosphere of the town, the neighbourhoods, factories, the port, crowded homes, violence in schools, the 1970s and 1980s.

The first half of the film introduces us to these two central characters, very striking performances from Malik Frikah as Clotaire and Mallory Wanecaue as Jackie. Even at home, when very young, Clotaire imposes himself on everyone around him, his impatient factory working father, his mother, the siblings. Jackie, on the other hand, has lost her mother in a sudden car crash, lives with her earnest father who wants only the best for her. While Clotaire throws his weight around at school, tough with fists, tough with language, he is attracted to the young girl and she to him, some very romantic sequences, dancing, comfortable together, beating hearts.

Music is a very important part of the film, the songs of the period playing throughout the whole film, popular, memories for audiences, significant lyrics.

But, this is also a crime story, Clotaire and his friends, gradually getting caught up in a world of drug dealing, rivalries, gangs, violence, bosses appreciating Clotaire’s carefree and violent talents. Many French writers and directors enjoy making action crime films. Director, Gilles Lelouche, prominent star in French cinema for many decades, has appeared in several of these films and energises the action here in an elaborate heist sequence during the protest by sacked workers at the port, an eruption of violence and Clotaire going to prison.

As something of a balance to Clotaire’s story, there is a focus on the interaction between Jackie and her father, his constant concern for her, the ups and downs of her crises, reacting against his protection but always going back to him for support, love and advice.

The second half of the film has Jackie, not allowed to visit clutter in prison, encountering an up-and-coming businessman, Jeffrey (Vincent Lacoste) fending him off, marrying him, yet, we might say, her heart definitely not beating for him. And then Clotaire gets out of prison. He seems subdued, and for a moment, we hope that his life has changed. But, there is the issue of taking a fall for others and seeds of revenge kindled.

The adult Clotaire and Jackie are played by starts Adele Exarchopoulos and Francois Civil.

So, after such a long time sharing the beating hearts of Clotaire and Jackie, how can it possibly end? As with the words of the French title, Phew Love.

1. The tone of the original title, Phew Love, a mad love? The contrast with the serious intensity of the French title?
2. The impact of the film as a whole, the long running time, the storytelling over decades? The social context, the romance, crime and punishment? The skill of the director and his experience in acting?
3. The end of the 20^th century, the final decades? Friends and its issues? The northern town, industrial, the port? The poorer neighbourhoods? Schools? Families? Homes? Deals, criminality? Drugs? Bosses, gangs and rivalries?
4. The focus on Clotaire, within the family, his dominance of the of the children, his personality, clashes with his father, the role of his mother? Going up, the team, dominant, extroverted, violent, clashes with students, his range of friends, the going together, the criminal side, the gangs, the encounter with the bosses, doing deals, confronting bosses, the violence, Clotaire’s standing up to them, ingratiating himself, becoming part of the gang, proving himself to the boss and his liking him, the boss’s son?
5. The plan for the big heist, the background of the industry, the port, the sacking of the workers, including Clotaire’s father, the consequences? The decision for the robbery during the protest at the port? The group, interactions, the plan, the containers, the trucks, the robbery? The security guards, the gun, the boss’s son shooting the guard dead? Clotaire trying to revive him? The escape? The police? The arrests?
6. Clotaire, the implications that he was the murderer, his lawyer, ineffectual, his becoming the victim? 10 years imprisonment?
7. The romance story, introduction to Jackie, the death of her mother, her relationship with her father, her studies, competence, intrigued by Clotaire sequences together, the dancing, romance, her highly emotional involvement, ups and downs emotionally, her father, his character, expectations, trying to help his daughter, her variety of moods? Clotaire and his imprisonment? His not allowing her to visit him?
8. The 10 years passing, the effect on Clotaire, seemingly calm, out of prison, with his family again, the support of his mother, relationship with his brother? Finding his black friend again? And his friend being killed? His looking for Jackie, the visit to her father, the father protecting his daughter? The possibilities for clarity, a different life?
9. The seeds of revenge, going to see the boss, his age, decline, explanations of his shielding his son, letting Clotaire take all the blame? The visit of the son, his prosperity, arrogance, drug deals, the club? Clotaire and his friends, the confrontation with the son, shootout?
10. Jackie’s story, not seeing Clotaire for 10 years, Jeffery, her work, slack, her offhanded manner with him, his response, proposal, the marriage? The tensions within the marriage, her pining for Clotaire, his travels, suspicions, confronting her?
11. The impact of the opening sequence, the older Clotaire, his gang, the raid, the confrontations, the shootout? This sequence occurring again, but with a different ending, Clotaire’s moving away?
12. Jackie, the phone, the confrontation with Geoffrey, Clotaire and Jeffrey, Jackie and her love?
13. The future, Clotaire and his vengeance of violence,, the relationship and Jackie?

REVENIR/ BACK HOME

France, 2019, 77 minutes, Colour.

Neils Schneider, Adele Exarchopoulos, Roman Coustere Hachez, Patrick d'Assumcao, Helene Vincent.

Directed by Jessica Pallud.

This is a brief but effective film.

The focus is on Thomas, middle-aged, returning home to France from his life in Montréal where he runs a restaurant. He has been alienated from his family for 12 years, his father refusing to speak to him. However, his mother is in hospital and has asked her son to come to visit.

The film has an attractive rural setting, the French countryside. But, the drama is focused, Thomas and some scenes with his mother, the hostility from his father. And there is a complication that his older brother had been killed in an accident and Thomas had not returned for the funeral. He now encounters his widow and the young son.

The film builds up atmosphere with simple sequences like meals, Thomas minding the boy while his mother has to go to work.

There is some hope at the ending, the sadness of the mother dying, some moments of leniency by the father, but still grudgingly, and the search for the boy when his lost and Thomas bringing his father home after he fell in the woods.

There are further complications, the audience wondering what will happen to the boy and his mother, has the father will cope after the death of his wife, Thomas returning to Canada…

1. The title, memories of the past, returning home, the crisis of the present, crisis of memories and hurt?
2. The setting, the countryside, the farm? The house and interiors? The hospital? The musical score?
3. The focus on Thomas, age, arrival, the taxi, encountering Alex, Alex falling, hurting himself, the meeting with Mona, unfolding the story, his dead brother and not coming for the funeral, Mona as a widow, the little boy? His mother, ill, asking him to come? Not speaking with his father for 12 years, going to Canada, successfully setting up a restaurant? His motivation for returning?
4. Thomas going to the hospital, the reaction of his father, gruff, hostile, the visit with his mother, her tenderness, his sadness? Her death? The impact on her husband, on Mona, on her grandson, his grief?
5. Thomas, reacquainted with friends, memories of the past, the situation at home, debts, selling the cattle, the discovery of the well, the flooding of the field? And her situation, prospects for Alex?
6. The domestic scenes, Alex and his tantrums, his mother’s reaction? Thomas, looking after him while his mother was at work, the play, the ride, the bedtime story?
7. The aftermath of the death, the father, sitting quietly, his grief, the toast to his wife and not acknowledging Thomas, Thomas’s angry reaction? The father recounting the long life yet had with his wife, constant devotion?
8. Alex, disappearing, crisis, the three going out to search for him, the father falling, Thomas rescuing him, bringing him home? Alex walking to the friends, their driving him back?
9. The father sleeping the chair, the next morning, the coffee, his comments, opening up a little to his son?
10. The visit, Thomas ending the leak with his father’s tools, returning to Canada – and the audience wondering what connections for the future?

VOLEUSES/ WINGWOMEN

France, 2023, 116 minutes, Colour.

Adele Exarchopoulos, Melanie Laurent, Manon Bresch, Isabelle Adjani.

Directed by Melanie Laurent.

As the title indicates, this is a strong women’s film. Leading characters – but as the French title suggests, the criminal aspect of their lives and careers?

The film has been cowritten and directed by French and international star, Melanie Laurent (who made such an impact in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds who has gone on to star and direct at home and abroad).

She is at the centre of the film, with Adele Exarchopoulos, two criminals, one a thief, the other a sniper, but rescued from the streets by an elegant but sinister woman who is known as Godmother. She is played by celebrated French star, Isabelle Adjani – and seen initially at a cinema watching the film starring Danielle Darrieux and Jean Gabby and, linking this film to the tradition of French classics.

On the one hand, this is a smiling comedy rather than laugh out loud. On the other hand, it is a caper and heist movie, scenes of action, chases in the streets, drones in pursuit, shootouts. And, there is a range of international settings and beautiful locations.

There is the theme of the arch criminal and the hold over the subordinates, talking about letting them go after one last heist, but still threatening them. And, the characters who are getting tired of all the action, would like to retire quietly but are required to do one last job.

A variation on popular buddy and comic action themes, French style, women’s style.

1. Title and tone? Graphic novel? Characters and action? The female perspective, characters, action, relationships, writing and direction?
2. A variation on the buddy comedy, characters and relationships, action together, ordinary, crises? The musical score?
3. The background of heist and capers, Carole and Alex, the opening, Alex and the rollerskating, the bruises, coming home, comfortable with Carole? The relationship? But their crime career? Killers? Their jobs, emotions? The initial action, the pursuit, the drones, their discussions about groceries and ordinary things, of the cliff?
4. The theft sequences, action, suspense, chases through the streets, the drones, shootouts?
5. The character of Godmother, Isabelle Adjani and her status in French cinema? Seen watching the film with Danielle Darrieux and Jean Gabin? The link to French classics? Her manner, age, control, the past and her rescuing the two, her hold over them, at her command? Her house, manner and style?
6. Carole and Alex, skills as thieves, sniper? The careers? Wanting to get out? Godmother and her hold over them, the threats?
7. The last job, the getting of the city plans, travel to cities, the arms dealer and weapons, going to Corsica, the target for stealing, the painting – and Godmother condemning it as kitsch?
8. Sam, Formula One, driver, in need of a job, the two recruiting her, the montage and training?
9. The finale, the action? Confrontation of Godmother? And the hopes for being able to live a life?