LA CALIFORNIE
France, 2006, 117 minutes, Colour.
Nathalie Baye, Roschdy Zem, Ludivine Sagnier, Mylene Demongeot, Radivoje Bukvic.
Directed by Jacques Fieschi.
Based on a novel by Georges Simenon, the film is very contemporary in its portrayal of luxury in Cannes and the effect of migrants in France from the Balkans. While there are crimes, including robbery and murder, this element is made quite secondary to the dramatic personal interactions.
With attractive locations, a stellar cast including Nathalie Baye, Roschdy Zem, Ludivine Sagnier, Mylene Demongeot, this is a glossy piece of popular French cinema, a kind of easy come, easy go entertainment that does have issues but does not press them.
1. A glossy entertainment? Set in Canne? The rich? The migrants? Relationships? Robbery? Murder? The story based on a Georges Simenon novel? The adaptation from Simenon’s time to the contemporary time?
2. The setting in Cannes: the use of the waterfront, the hotels, the streets, the countryside, the mountains? Authentic atmosphere? The beauty that is Cannes? The musical score?
3. The title: the transition from Simenon’s Dead End to the new title California, French California? The significance of France being a kind of California for the migrants from the Balkan countries?
4. The range of characters, the French, their backgrounds? The people from the Balkans and their backgrounds? The interactions together in Cannes?
5. The character of Maguy, her age, experience, her relationship with Mirko, drinking, whims? Her insecurity? Having walked out on her marriage, left her daughter? Gone to Africa, her business success? Living in luxury in Cannes? Her entourage and relationship with them? Her running out of money – yet her being extravagant, at the nightclubs? Finding the money for Helene? Her daughter coming back into her life, her not apologising, her wanting to do something for her daughter? The on-and-off relationship with Mirko, her dependence on him emotionally, for trivial things like shopping? Francis and his doing her hair, make-up, allowing him to live in the house? His relationship with Doudou? Her understanding of their relationship? The importance of her relationship with Stephan, his managing the boat, coming to the house? The meals and Stephan cooking? The way of life, her dependence on Katya – and then accusing her of stealing? Issues coming to a head, Helene not wanting to stay with her but live on the boat, start the business? Katya and her wanting to leave? Stephan and the accusation that he stole the ring, the search of his boat? Guilty and his running away? the falling out with Mirko? His confrontation with her, bashing her, her death?
6. Mirko, his background, from the Balkans and the background of his brutality as a thug? Life in Paris? Coming to Cannes, friendship with Stephan? With others from the Balkans? His personality, his relationship with Maguy, taking her money, shopping, the boat? His friendship with Stephan? Their visiting the church and the different religious attitudes? His antagonism towards Helene, in the house, on the boat? His confronting her and Stephan’s intervention? His place in the household, his antagonism towards Maguy, his final exasperation and killing her? His going back to the Balkans, looking for Stephan – having framed Stephan for the robbery? The confrontation with the thugs, meeting with Stephan? Violence and death?
7. Stephan, the Balkans, his friendship with Mirko? Looking after the boat, doing the cooking? His religious background, trying to be ethical? A gentleman? The attraction of Helene, her thrusting herself at him? The relationship? In the church – and her not wanting to stay there? The Feast of St Nicholas, his patron? With Mirko at the club, his getting drunk? His being accused of the stealing, his upset, his leaving? His return to Serbia, in the shelter, with Mirko? The violence? The end?
8. Katya, a companion to Maguy, her place in the household, cheerful? Her being accused of stealing, her justifying herself? Her finally getting the courage to leave?
9. Francis and Doudou, their helping Maguy, their living in the house, their relationship, their camp style?
10. Helene, her arrival, with Frederique? Frederique’s role, friendship? Her leaving? Helene and her alienation from her mother, not wanting to stay in the house, going to the boat, the relationship with Stephan, her falling in love? Her asking her mother for the money? Going to Paris, establishing herself, the choice of bookbinding? Her mother having examined the prospect and suggested an accountant? The separation from Stephan, finding that he had disappeared? Seeing her at work and successful in Paris?
11. Popular ingredients for a French-style drama with the touch of the thriller?
