Successful and easy going real estate agent Vincent (Patrick Bruel, from Paris Manhattan, etc) is about to become a father for the first time, and at an intimate gathering with a close circle of friends he drops a bombshell when he reveals the controversial proposed name for his son. This sets off a heated exchange between Vincent and Pierre (Charles Berling, from L'Ennui, etc), his uptight and educated left wing brother-in-law and long suffering wife Elizabeth (Valerie Benguigui). Also reluctantly dragged into the arguments is Elizabeth's long time friend and musician Claude (Guillaume de Tonquedec), and Vincent's chain smoking heavily pregnant wife Anna (Judith El Zein). Soon other secrets, long simmering issues, startling revelations and recriminations bubble over, and the evening becomes rather heated. Politics, religion, history, egos, trust, family issues, and even sexual orientation soon become fair game, and everyone is vulnerable. Oh yes, there will be blood spilled (figuratively speaking). This bitingly savage and hilarious comedy/drama is a bit like a Gallic version of Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf or the recent Carnage, in which a dinner party goes out of control and the guests verbally tear strips off each other. No-one emerges from the evening unscathed. There are many twists before the evening is over, and many will blind side audiences familiar with this type of claustrophobic drama. The staging is very theatrical in nature as the action is confined to Pierre and Elizabeth's living room. It's not surprising to learn that writer and co-director Matthieu Delaporte first conceived the idea as a stage play but then decided to turn it into a feature film. Delaporte and Alexandre De La Patelliere have collaborated as writers on a number of films including 22 Bullets and an Iron Man television series. While Delaporte has directed one other film, his writing partner De La Patelliere is making his debut with this film. Their direction is fluid, and they maintain the pace throughout this dialogue driven film. The astute, erudite and crisp screenplay delivers a barrage of verbal zingers and caustic put downs, and the tone shifts seamlessly between the comic and the dark and serious. The chemistry between the five person ensemble cast is electric. Production designer Marie Cheminel has created a wonderfully warm book lined set that is the perfect backdrop for the verbal sparring.
Review of What's in a Name?
