I went to this film with high expectations and came out with them almost wholly dashed. This is a film where there are a few high spots, but far too many low ones.
There are three major defects with this film. The first is that it is ridiculously overlong, and thus ultimately very boring. Scene after scene is extended and extended and extended, with the extensions contributing exactly nothing to advancing the plot or developing or even showing the characters. The scene with the girl on the potty just went on too long. So did the scenes with the wronged wife (particularly the second one, in which the woman wailed and complained and cried for what must have been five straight minutes – it seemed like five hours – repeating word for word the same line again and again and again). So did the belly dance. So did Slimane's run.
Second, the plot. Unfortunately I have to reveal quite a lot to make this good, so if you want to watch it fresh, don't read this. But really! First of all, a 61 year old man with nothing and no bank loan first of all decides to set up a floating restaurant in which, apparently, everyone is supposed to work for nothing, and then does so. Then, on the opening night, which is when he's supposed to show everyone how it can work, all the cooking is done at his wife's place and transported there in a car. That doesn't sound much like a restaurant to me. Then they forget to unload the car properly. Then the philandering son decides to leave with the car because he finds his mistress is at the restaurant and he fears being exposed – despite the fact that his mistress is with her husband and just as keen on keeping things quiet as he is. And then Slimane leaves his moped unattended just as he always does, and it just happens to be this time that it gets pinched. For Heaven's sake.
Third, the fake documentary style. Frankly, I could kill the person who invented the Steadicam. As a way of making the viewer feel sick it has few equals and no superiors. And the endless close-ups of people eating and talking with their mouths full may be realistic, but the scene at the beginning with the family eating the meal together was no doubt supposed to convey the warmth of the family, but it failed in its purpose because it was so repulsive to look at. We don't stare at each other's munching jaws when we eat together; it's not necessary for the camera to do so when we're watching a film.
There are good bits. For about half and hour while Rym, the spunky young girl, is helping Slimane set up his venture, the film actually moves along, and she's a convincing and engaging character. A number of individual scenes work well: Slimane getting laid off; the old musicians talking together; Rym persuading her mother to go to the opening.
But all in all, it's overlong, unbelievable and too often boring.
There are three major defects with this film. The first is that it is ridiculously overlong, and thus ultimately very boring. Scene after scene is extended and extended and extended, with the extensions contributing exactly nothing to advancing the plot or developing or even showing the characters. The scene with the girl on the potty just went on too long. So did the scenes with the wronged wife (particularly the second one, in which the woman wailed and complained and cried for what must have been five straight minutes – it seemed like five hours – repeating word for word the same line again and again and again). So did the belly dance. So did Slimane's run.
Second, the plot. Unfortunately I have to reveal quite a lot to make this good, so if you want to watch it fresh, don't read this. But really! First of all, a 61 year old man with nothing and no bank loan first of all decides to set up a floating restaurant in which, apparently, everyone is supposed to work for nothing, and then does so. Then, on the opening night, which is when he's supposed to show everyone how it can work, all the cooking is done at his wife's place and transported there in a car. That doesn't sound much like a restaurant to me. Then they forget to unload the car properly. Then the philandering son decides to leave with the car because he finds his mistress is at the restaurant and he fears being exposed – despite the fact that his mistress is with her husband and just as keen on keeping things quiet as he is. And then Slimane leaves his moped unattended just as he always does, and it just happens to be this time that it gets pinched. For Heaven's sake.
Third, the fake documentary style. Frankly, I could kill the person who invented the Steadicam. As a way of making the viewer feel sick it has few equals and no superiors. And the endless close-ups of people eating and talking with their mouths full may be realistic, but the scene at the beginning with the family eating the meal together was no doubt supposed to convey the warmth of the family, but it failed in its purpose because it was so repulsive to look at. We don't stare at each other's munching jaws when we eat together; it's not necessary for the camera to do so when we're watching a film.
There are good bits. For about half and hour while Rym, the spunky young girl, is helping Slimane set up his venture, the film actually moves along, and she's a convincing and engaging character. A number of individual scenes work well: Slimane getting laid off; the old musicians talking together; Rym persuading her mother to go to the opening.
But all in all, it's overlong, unbelievable and too often boring.