FRANK & LOLA

US, 2016, 88 minutes, Colour.
Michael Shannon, Imogen Poots, Justin Long, Rosanna Arquette, Michael Nyqvist, Emmanuelle Devos.
Directed by Matthew Ross.

The pairing of Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots is quite unusual, but that is the nature of the relationship explored in this film. Michael Shannon is Frank, an older man, trained as a chef in Paris, a strong reputation in Chicago. Imogen Poots is Lola, graduated as a fashion designer, looking for a job, entering into a relationship with Frank. At first hesitant, then the couple living together, having a meal with Lola's mother (played by Rosanna Arquette).

Also on the scene is Justin Long as a millionaire owner of stores who float at a bar with Lola but offers her a job. He hires Frank's company to cater for a dinner where Frank discovers that Lola is a guest. Keith also offers Frank the opportunity to go to Paris for a cooking audition at a mansion.

Complications come when Lola has a one night stand, is tearful, explains that she has been raped in the past by her mother’s boyfriend in Paris. This adds to Frank's obsessive approach to Lola.

In France, Frank tracks down the mother's boyfriend, they share a trip to a seedy sex club, Frank finally revealing his relationship with Lola, talking with the man's wife. The couple are played by Michael Nyqvist and Emmanuelle Devos .On his return to Chicago, Frank finds that the man is there, contacting Lola and there is a brutal fight.

Ultimately, Frank gives an ultimatum to Lola returning and not seeing her but the audience seeing her in the background at the bar. The ending is ambiguous.

1. Billed as a psychosexual drama? How interesting? Effective?
2. The Chicago settings, restaurants, the streets, apartments? The contrast with the Paris settings? Mansions, kitchens? Seedy clubs? The musical score?

3. The total, the focus, expectations?

4. The opening, the initial relationship between Frank and Lola, sexual, visitations, Lola and her being forward, Frank and his hesitations?

5. The development of the relationship? Together, the dinner with Lola’s mother, Frank defending Lola about her mother being condescending?

6. Frank, his age, training as a chef in Paris, cooking for many years, his reputation and skills, Centre working in the restaurant, working for owners, his being employed to
cater for meals? Issues of restaurants, ownership? His progress?

7. Lola, fashion design, relationship with her mother, her mother's boyfriend in Paris, the story of the rape? Her graduation, the link with Frank? The encounter with Keith, the talk about the job, his owning the stores, Frank and his listening in, jealous? Lola going to work for Keith, but not with him? The domestic scenes at home? Frank and his questions?

8. Catering for the dinner, being brought in to meet the guests, the irony of Keith being the host, the surprise to find Lola there, her going to the kitchen, talking? Keith and his offering the opportunities for Frank to audition in cooking in France?

9. Frank, the car, waiting for Lola? Her tears? Frank being upset, demanding, impatient? Lola and explanations about the mother's boyfriend, the rape? The effect on her? The one night stand? Frank's growing obsessive attitude?

10. Frank going to Paris, the connections, the dinner, the acclaim? His staying in Paris, connections, tracking down Alan, the drinks, the tour of the city, going to his apartment? The scenes of the sex video and Lola's presence and activities?

11. The background of the club, the women, sexual activities and fantasies?

12. Alan, Claire, the relationship, Frank and his contact with Claire, the discussions?

13. Frank, the knife, confronting Alan about the rape? His denials?

14. The return to Chicago, the interview with Claire and her husband's explanation of his travels? Frank finding him in Chicago? With Lola? Frank assaulting him, the fight? Ordering Alan out of the US?

15. The dinner, Keith, Lola, the discussions with Frank? His catering, his going to change, an ultimatum for Lola? His return, not seeing her at the bar, yet the audience seeing her in the background?

16. The ambiguity about the ending, a future together, not?