Rendez-Vous with French Cinema 2022

[Chris Knipp]

Critical raves for BRUNO REIDAL in France.

BRUNO REIDAL: CONFESSION OF A MURDERER/BRUNO REIDAL, CONFESSION D'UN MEUTRIER (Vincent Le Port 2021)

Le Port's feature debut is out today in France (Wed. Mar. 23, 2022), and the AlloCiné press rating (4.0, 80%) and quotes from reviews show it has gotten general raves. Notably, some of the best critics/publications are those with the highest praise, those of Cahiers du Cinéma, Les Inrockuptibles, Libération. Contrasts are emphasized: "As powerful in its mastery as its brutality" (Ouest France) "raw beauty," "a gripping, disturbing, masterful first feature" (Voici). There is also much praise for the debuting actor in the lead, Dmitri Doré.

This from Sophie Avon of Sud-Ouest: "Vincent le Port adopts the rigour of the text which, although it is police-style, nevertheless has a brilliant force. His film has a sharp beauty that blends the savagery of the act with the splendor of nature, the atrocity of murder with the fragility of childhood."

Bruno Reidal Was the first film of this year's Rendez-Vous that I saw, and left the strongest impression - in a R-V that had plenty of good stuff in it besides.

[Chris Knipp]

Fire/Avec amour et acharnement (Claire Denis 2022)

At last I've rewatched and reviewed this latest film by the great Claire Denis. So far as I can decode it, the French title means "With Love and Fury." It is brutal, intense, erotic, angry, and frustratingly unresolved - everything you might want in a Claire Denis film about a love triangle. It has major stars, Vincent Lindon and Juliette Binoche, and Denis' favorite male actor, Grégoire Colin. Some of it doesn't quite compute or just isn't spelled out enough, but there's no denying or failing to appreciate the visceral intensity.

[Chris Knipp]

A reminder. . .

Jacques Audiard's PARIS, 13TH DISTRICT/LES OLYMPIADES, PARIS 13E begins its US release tomorrow, April 15, 2022. Anthony Lane, the film critic of The New Yorker, has a rave review of it in this week's issue.


LUCIE ZHANG, MAKITA SAMBA IN PARIS, 13TH DISTRICT

[Chris Knipp]

EVERYTHING WENT FINE/TOUT C'EST BIEN PASSÉ (François Ozon 2021)

A late addition. Not yet released in the US by Cohen Media Group.

Based on the book by daughter Emmanuèlle Bernheim, this recounts André Bernheim's path to assisted suicide in Switzerland after a stroke makes, in his opinion, his life no longer worth living. He makes Emmanuèlle do the arranging. The portrait of this plaintive, stubborn, obnoxious man is greatly enhanced by a wonderful performance by the great André Dusollier. Why he didn't get a César or even a nomination is a mystery. Also including Charltte Rampling , Hanna Schygulla and with Sophie Marceau as Emanuèlle. Debuted in Competition at Cannes 7 July 2021.