Contrary to what others suggest here, this movie doesn't start well and then deteriorate but starts out as a cliched, grotesque and quite unpleasant parade of caricatures, and later on morphs into something much more intriguing and engaging, not least for the unexpectedly clever structuring that reclaims some of the worst scenes from early on and gives them new meaning if not much more style or appeal in the second half.
The problem with this movie, in fact, is the overly long first half which does its best to repel, disgust and disappoint the viewer (so much so that many will have long given up before the nuances of the plot are brought to light). It's not giving much away to say that the oddly incongruous African opening scene does start to make sense eventually. Indeed it is the part of the movie that deals with the dark online relationship between prosperous Europe and impoverished Africa that is the most interesting element of this jumbled tale. Unfortunately the shoehorning of so much else into the plot ultimately leaves even this promising material feeling more like just another contrivance and less like anything of real importance or substance.
Whatever merits the movie possesses (and there are many, but mostly to do with execution and pacing rather than depth or empathy) the truly ludicrous ending is enough to remind you that none of these characters matters a whit in this director's search for something to distract and entertain. In the end no one in this movie is even half as real to the director as the fake online lover is to one of the central characters.
The problem with this movie, in fact, is the overly long first half which does its best to repel, disgust and disappoint the viewer (so much so that many will have long given up before the nuances of the plot are brought to light). It's not giving much away to say that the oddly incongruous African opening scene does start to make sense eventually. Indeed it is the part of the movie that deals with the dark online relationship between prosperous Europe and impoverished Africa that is the most interesting element of this jumbled tale. Unfortunately the shoehorning of so much else into the plot ultimately leaves even this promising material feeling more like just another contrivance and less like anything of real importance or substance.
Whatever merits the movie possesses (and there are many, but mostly to do with execution and pacing rather than depth or empathy) the truly ludicrous ending is enough to remind you that none of these characters matters a whit in this director's search for something to distract and entertain. In the end no one in this movie is even half as real to the director as the fake online lover is to one of the central characters.