Displaying items by tag: Adele Exarchoupolis

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?