Movie reviews

MADAME

Recommended. A bitter-sweet satire on the upper class: following gurus on psychology, cuisine, music, fashion, possessions, acquaintances. They also think they own others and script and direct their lives on a whim at the same time reassuring themselves they're "democrats" and makers of their own destiny, e.g. when challenged on the fate of immigrants, they will cite exceptions, male ones, as if they were obvious and regular. The posh rely on migrant servants completely so maintaining status quo is in their interest. But a servant, fluent in 3 languages, can easily pass herself off as one of them. And she's the one who truly appreciates their life pleasures. The story's also about love and on how our social environment limits us in the choice of a partner. The servants are genuine while their patrons frustrated and unable to achieve what they truly want.

ÉPOUSE-MOI MON POTE (MARRY ME, DUDE)

Watchable. An intelligent comedy of errors with serious undertones. Not entirely hilarious but provides a few good laughs. Frederique is a character like Dupree in "You, Me and Dupree" or Spike in "Notting Hill". The movie challenges our attitudes as it reverses sexual advances gender-wise. The last scene with the Moroccan official is a gem as it smartly turns the immigration issue around.

PHANTOM THREAD

Watchable. Filled with old-fashioned charm in London I didn't recognise. Very peaceful in the first part and unsettling and perverse in the second. The movie covers three areas: the message that adulation doesn't mean understanding, creating and living haute couture and, mostly, the invisible thread binding some people even if love ebbs and flows and even if the introvert world of a distinguished tailor gets rocked and sometimes turned upside down by his extrovert muse. The film's too intellectual and too little emotional.


FRANCOPHONIE FESTIVAL

DALIDA

Recommended for the second time. "Salama Ya Salama" sung in Arabic was my fave song this time round. The movie still hits hard, especially her driving others and herself to suicides. She was strong enough to leave her partners first but too weak to live without them. She disguised her tears with a smile.


GURGACZ

Walked out. I woke some viewers when I was leaving. Boring. Specially extended for the cinema, it shows men in uniforms walking through woods in silence every few minutes. In between you hear monotonous testimonies of the times of the cursed soldiers. Not for history buffs who know it already. Only slow and deeply religious people can possibly appreciate the story of the partisan priest.

LADY BIRD

Watchable. Oscar nominations?! Seriously? Quite an ordinary tale about being 17-18. Realistic. Doesn't stand out in any way.