Bastards
Written by Claire Denis and Jean-Pol Fargeau
Directed by Claire Denis
France/Germany, 2013
Every detail matters in the films of Claire Denis. Her latest, and unquestionably her darkest film yet, Bastards, contains a wealth of information in its first few shots: a man on the verge of what we learn to be a suicide, pacing about his office with the rain crashing down outside; a naked girl, wearing only heels, slowly inching her way down a darkly lit street. We re-visit the latter of these shots later in the film, but under a completely different and disturbing context. Denis is back working in full L’Intrus mode, and while Bastards isn’t nearly as impenetrable as the aforementioned 2004 film, it’s an elliptically charged work that challenges and seduces with its wide gamut of unsettling images and sounds.
Intensely fragmented, the “thriller/revenge” narrative is put in slow-motion by the suicide of Jacques.
Written by Claire Denis and Jean-Pol Fargeau
Directed by Claire Denis
France/Germany, 2013
Every detail matters in the films of Claire Denis. Her latest, and unquestionably her darkest film yet, Bastards, contains a wealth of information in its first few shots: a man on the verge of what we learn to be a suicide, pacing about his office with the rain crashing down outside; a naked girl, wearing only heels, slowly inching her way down a darkly lit street. We re-visit the latter of these shots later in the film, but under a completely different and disturbing context. Denis is back working in full L’Intrus mode, and while Bastards isn’t nearly as impenetrable as the aforementioned 2004 film, it’s an elliptically charged work that challenges and seduces with its wide gamut of unsettling images and sounds.
Intensely fragmented, the “thriller/revenge” narrative is put in slow-motion by the suicide of Jacques.
- 9/14/2013
- by Ty Landis
- SoundOnSight
"35 Shots of Rum". Two couples live across the hall in the same Paris apartment building. Neither couple is "together." Gabrielle and Noe have the vibes of roommates, but the way Lionel and Josephine love one another, it's a small shock when she calls him "papa." Lionel (Alex Descas) is a train engineer. Jo (Mati Diop) works in a music store. Gabrielle (Nicole Dogue) drives her own taxi. Noe (Gregoire Colin) claims only his much-loved cat is preventing him from moving to Brazil.
The four people are in and out of both apartments so readily, we sense they're a virtual family. One night they head out together in Gabrielle's taxi for a concert. The taxi breaks down, it rains, they shelter in a Jamaican cafe, there's good music on the juke box, they dance with one another. During the dancing and kidding around, it becomes clear to them, and to us,...
The four people are in and out of both apartments so readily, we sense they're a virtual family. One night they head out together in Gabrielle's taxi for a concert. The taxi breaks down, it rains, they shelter in a Jamaican cafe, there's good music on the juke box, they dance with one another. During the dancing and kidding around, it becomes clear to them, and to us,...
- 1/2/2011
- by Roger Ebert
- blogs.suntimes.com/ebert
When all we have is each other, what are we suppose to do when they leave?
Directed and co-written by French filmmaker Claire Denis, 35 Shots Of Rum is a study on human separation. Denis (Chocolat) delicately introduces the audience to a father and daughter. We first meet them physically separated by distance, each of them making their journey home for the day to settle together in their small apartment.
Lionel (Alex Descas) makes his living conducting a subway train through the city. Lionel is a quiet, reserved man, always with something on his mind. Lionel’s depth of thought, his emotional anguish about the life his daughter leads and the guilt he feels for her confining herself to his life, is apparent in the heavily non-verbal performance on Descas.
Lionel’s daughter Joséphine (Mati Diop) is a thin and beautiful young woman, pursues university study and works at a small local Virgin record store.
Directed and co-written by French filmmaker Claire Denis, 35 Shots Of Rum is a study on human separation. Denis (Chocolat) delicately introduces the audience to a father and daughter. We first meet them physically separated by distance, each of them making their journey home for the day to settle together in their small apartment.
Lionel (Alex Descas) makes his living conducting a subway train through the city. Lionel is a quiet, reserved man, always with something on his mind. Lionel’s depth of thought, his emotional anguish about the life his daughter leads and the guilt he feels for her confining herself to his life, is apparent in the heavily non-verbal performance on Descas.
Lionel’s daughter Joséphine (Mati Diop) is a thin and beautiful young woman, pursues university study and works at a small local Virgin record store.
- 2/12/2010
- by Travis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
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