DANS PARIS

France, 2006, 93 minutes, Colour.
Romain Duris, Louis Garrel, Joana Preiss, Guy Marchand, Marie- France Pisier, Alice Butaud.
Directed by Christophe Honore.

Definitely a film for Francophiles. Others beware.

Christophe Honore’s previous film, Ma Mere, and the screenplay that he wrote for Gael Morel’s Le Clan, are full of abstract conversations about inner angst and about failed relationships. They are stimulating if you like this kind of anguished self-analysis and moodiness. Otherwise they seem self-indulgent and are tedious.

Honore has used Louis Garrell (Dreamers) in Ma Mere. Here, he plays the rather carefree younger brother to Romain Duris’ older brother who has broken with his girlfriend, is taking refuge in his father’s house (in his brother’s room, ousting him to the sofa) and revelling in his depression and sneaking out at night in his brother’s clothes and throwing himself into the Seine.

The father (Guy Marchand) is an old grump and is alienated from his ex-wife (Marie France Pisier) who comes to visit but does not bother to see her sons, leaving in a huff because of her husband.

Along with a visit from younger brother’s girlfriend (one of many) which does lead to some kind of outgoing action from Duris, this is about all that happens. The talk is what is important – and more important than the random glimpses of Paris (mainly at night), so that having Paris in the title is a bit misleading. One presumes that characters like this talk like this dans France in general.

1.The work of Honore? Relationships? Sexuality? The emphasis on dialogue, interactions, philosophical reflections? Abstractions and relationships?

2.The Paris settings, the title, Paris at night, the views? The streets, the apartments? Paris as a character? The musical score?

3.The drama, the focus on characters, the interrelationships, the tensions? The melodramatics of their actions? The emphasis on dialogue, emotional, cerebral? The philosophical discussions? The overall impact?

4.The particularly French sensibility? Abstractions compared with the pragmatic?

5.The situation, Jonathan and his getting out of bed, going to the balcony, addressing the audience, confiding in them, returning to his character? Coming back to the audience every now and then? The situation with Paul, Anna leaving him, the relationship with Jonathan and his father, his depression? The visit of his mother? Alice and her coming to see Jonathan and Paul dealing with this?

6.Depression, relationships, moodiness? Suicidal attempts – or going through the motions? Strength of character, strength of will?

7.Paul, the relationship with Anna, her reaction to him, saying that he wanted to wash to be rid of her, her leaving? The later phone call? The boy? Anna as a character, her love for Paul, the dance, the phone call? Possibly reuniting?

8.Paul as a character, his personality, his work? Relationship to his father, going to stay with him? Moving into Jonathan’s room? The friendship between the two brothers, advice? His staying indoors, watching television? His going out at night, in Jonathan’s clothes, leaping into the river? The return, the bath? His meeting Alice, discussing Jonathan with her? The weeping, consoling her? His relationship with his father, his not meeting his mother?

9.Jonathan, the younger brother, less responsible, studies, leaving his studies? His picking up girls, the day, flirting? Running to the market? His advice for Paul, listening to him, the brothers sharing? The bath? With his mother? The clashes with his father? Not reliable for his father? Alice and her coming to the apartment?

10.The father, old, cantankerous, living by himself, relying on Jonathan, wanting to help Paul? The visit of his ex-wife, their discussions, arguments?

11.The mother, her going off with another man? Her visits, concerns about her sons, clashing with her ex-husband, leaving, slamming the door?

12.Alice, weeping, the relationship with Jonathan, coming to the house, on the couch, listening to Paul?

13.The minor characters, especially the women in Jonathan’s life?

14.A particularly French look at characters, love, relationships?