Mood Indigo

 

Based on the novel Froth on the Daydream by Boris Vian, L’ecume des jours (The Froth of Days or Mood Indigo) is the story of a man who meets and falls for a woman who is dealing with an unusual illness caused by a flower growing in her lungs. Directed by Michel Gondry and screenplay by Gondry and Luc Bossi, the film is a genre-bending romantic-comedy that explores a man who falls for this woman as he tries to make her happy despite her illness. Starring Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh, Omar Sy, Aissa Maiga, and Charlotte Le Bon. Mood Indigo is a whimsical and heartfelt film from Michel Gondry.

The film follows a rich young man who meets and falls for a woman at a party as he would marry her only to deal with an illness she gained in their honeymoon caused by a flower in one of her lungs. It is a film with a simple premise as screenwriters Michel Gondry and Luc Bossi play into the whimsical world of this rich young man in Colin (Romain Duris) who lives with his cook Nicolas (Omar Sy) and a mouse (Sacha Bourdo) in a home that is unique. Attending a party hosted by Isis (Charlotte Le Bon) where he meets his friend Chick (Gad Elmaleh) and his new girlfriend in Nicolas’ niece Alise (Aissa Maiga). It is at the party where Colin meets Chloe (Audrey Tautou) as they take part in a dance craze and then meet again where he takes her to an underground forest as they fall in love and get married. Yet, things start to take a dark turn following their honeymoon when a flower flew into her lungs as it would cause this unusual illness.

Gondry’s direction can definitely be described as style over substance in terms of its overall presentation yet there is something charming to the way Gondry depicts the life of this rich man who lives in a home where a lot of objects have a life onto their own while the doorbell often acts like a bug that gets killed over and over again. Shot on location in Belgium with areas around Paris, France, Gondry creates a world that is offbeat where it’s not just Colin’s house that has moving objects but also the world around him that includes a ride he and Chloe ride on with the help of a construction crane. There are some unique wide shots that Gondry uses to get a scope into the world these characters are in while it is also full of eccentricities such as the way people dance to Duke Ellington (August Darnell) where they’re sitting but with bigger legs that are moving for the dance. The medium shots and close-ups do help play into the interaction between characters as well as the emphasis on the latter when it comes to moving objects created by stop-motion animation.

Gondry’s direction also play into the visual vibrancy as the first half of the film has this element of joy and whimsy though it does tend to overwhelm the story at times. The film’s second half when Chloe becomes ill is where the mood changes as it slowly play into this sense of decline. The look of the film becomes less colorful while the whimsy tone of it would also darken as Colin’s home starts to become smaller and unrecognizable. Even as there is this subplot in which Chick’s obsession towards this intellectual in Jean-Sol Parte (Philippe Torreton) would be his own downfall as well as cost his relationship with Alise as it adds to the declining presentation of the film in which the cinematography becomes more desaturated and colorless. Yet, Gondry does find a way to use the visuals to tell the story despite being overwhelmed by it add to this sense of odd yet entrancing tone of a man coping with the fact that he’s about to lose the love of his life. Overall, Gondry crafts an enchanting and heartfelt film about a man who falls in love only to later deal with the love of his life dying of a mysterious illness.

Cinematographer Christophe Beaucarne does incredible work with the film’s cinematography with its usage of colors and lights to play up the sense of vibrancy to eventually going into a desaturated look and later black-and-white. Editor Marie-Charlotte Moreau does excellent work with the editing as its usage of jump-cuts and stylish cuts to help play into the humor and surreal presentation of the film. Production designer Stephane Rozenbaum and art director Pierre Renson do phenomenal work with the look of the home that Colin has as well as the rooms and some of the places the characters go to as it is a highlight of the film. Costume designer Florence Fontaine does fantastic work with the costumes as it has elements of style in the clothes the characters wear as it play into the world that the characters live in.

The special makeup effects work of Olivier Afonso, Guillaume Castagne, Nicolas Herin, Frederic Laine, and Emmanuel Pitois do terrific work with the look of the characters such as Parte in his offbeat look as well as some of the prosthetics the main characters wear in some bits. Special effects supervisor Julien Poncet de la Grave, along with visual effects supervisors Benjamin Ageorges, Stephane Bidault, Jean Louis Dousson, and Arnaud Fouquet, does amazing work with the effects from the usage of stop-motion as well as prosthetics as it is a highlight of the film. Sound editor Damien Aubry does superb work with the sound in the way objects sound as well as how music is presented on location. The film’s music by Etienne Charry is wonderful for its jazz-based score with some playful piano pieces but also some somber themes to play into the drama while music supervisor Thomas Jamois creates a music soundtrack that features an array of music from artists/acts like Boz Scaggs, Duke Ellington, Ray Shanklin, Mia Doi Todd, Loane, and Ariel Ramirez.

The casting by Marie-France Michel is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Michel Gondry as a doctor, August Darnell aka Kid Creole as Duke Ellington, Zinedine Soualem as a factory plant owner that rules over Colin late in the film, Alain Chabat as a cook that Nicolas watches, Natacha Regnier as a pharmacist, Sacha Bourdo as the mouse who lives in Colin’s home as he wears a mouse costume, and Philippe Torreton as the writer Jean-Sol Parte as a writer/intellectual whom Chick worships as he ends up giving his followers some awful advice on life. Charlotte Le Bon is fantastic as Isis as a friend of Colin and Chick who hosts a party and eventually has a relationship with Nicolas as she also a friend of Chloe where she expresses concern for Chloe’s health. Aissa Maiga is excellent as Alise as Nicolas’ niece who falls for Chick over their love of Parte only to feel neglected by Chick’s growing obsession as it lead her to become angry and obsessed towards stopping Parte. Gad Elmaleh is brilliant as Chick as a friend of Colin who is a fervent follower of Parte as he hopes to have a life with Alise only to become more obsessed by Parte’s ideals as he loses sight of reality.

Omar Sy is amazing as Nicolas as Colin’s cook/caretaker who runs the house as he makes great feasts and often provides a lot of help for both Colin and Chloe as he is sort of the film’s conscience where he watches Chloe in her ailing health. Audrey Tautou is incredible as Chloe as a woman who falls for Colin as she is into the world of whimsy and Duke Ellington while also becoming someone who deals with this illness as she is unable to cope with Colin struggling. Finally, there’s Romain Duris in a remarkable performance as Colin as a rich man who has it all and marrying Chloe seems to give him fulfillment until Chloe becomes ill where he struggles with his finances and the people in his life as well as the idea of losing Chloe.

Mood Indigo is a remarkable film from Michel Gondry that feature great performances from Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, and Omar Sy. Along with its ensemble cast, dazzling visual effects, incredible art direction, and its offbeat music soundtrack. It is a film, in its 126-minute cut, that explore love though its whimsical presentation can overwhelm the story at times. In the end, Mood Indigo is a marvelous film from Michel Gondry.

Michel Gondry Films: Human Nature - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Dave Chappelle's Block Party - The Science of Sleep - Be Kind Rewind - Tokyo!-Interior Design - (The Thorn in the Heart) – The Green Hornet - The We & I - (Is the Man Who is Tall Happy?) – (Microbe & Gasoline)

© thevoid99 2022

Criminal Lovers

Directed by Francois Ozon and written by Ozon, Marcia Romano, and Annabelle Perrichon with additional contributions by Marina de Van and text inspired by the works of Arthur Rimbaud. Les amants criminels (Criminal Lovers) is the story about two teenagers who kill a young man as they hide in the woods with the body only to encounter a woodsman who kidnaps them and seduces one of them. The film is an exploration into the world of violence as it revolves around death but also sexual identity and manipulation. Starring Natacha Regnier, Jeremie Renier, Miki Manojlovic, and Salim Kechiouche. Les amants criminels is a haunting yet strange film from Francois Ozon.

In the scheme of murders, there always has to be a motive about what to do before and after the murder takes place. In the hands of two teenagers who kill a classmate of theirs after one of them claimed that person raped them. Killing him and the plan to kill him was easy as was burying the body but something would often go wrong in the scheme of things when they lose their back to the car they used to go to the countryside. Upon encountering this mysterious woodsman (Miki Manojlovic), the teens are taken to his cabin as he discovers about what they did as mind games come into play about whether this young woman’s claim about rape is true. Even as it raises questions and actions about what these two young people did.

The screenplay by Francois Ozon and his collaborators does have a unique structure as it is presented in a somewhat non-linear fashion where its narrative moves back and forth from past and present. Notably to establish the motivation of Alice (Natacha Regnier) and her boyfriend Luc (Jeremie Renier) to kill this young man named Said (Salim Kechiouche) by manipulating Luc into taking part in this scheme. Once they’re lost in the forest in a scheme that is similar to Hansel and Gretel, they seek shelter where they meet this woodsman who knows they’re up to trouble but discovers what they did where his action would eventually cause tension between Luc and the more domineering Alice. Even as the story moves back-and-forth from past to present where it reveals what Alice tried to make Luc do where in the present. He starts to ask questions about whether everything Alice had said was true.

Ozon’s direction is quite stylish as he does take cues on films based on serial killers but also had that element of children stories since it does contain references to Hansel and Gretel. There is a weirdness to Ozon’s approach in the story where there is an air of innocence in some aspects of the story but also something that is very offbeat. Even as there’s suggestions that Luc could really be gay as he has gained the attraction of the woodsman. Still, the direction is filled with some startling images such as Said’s murder and scenes to showcase the world of modern-day France with something as more free in the French countryside through some stylish compositions and camera angles. Overall, Ozon creates a very eerie yet off-kilter suspense film that plays to the effects of murder and manipulation.

Cinematographer Pierre Stoeber does nice work with the stylish cinematography that has this air of grain but also very colorful in the way Paris is presented while going for a more heightened look for the scenes in the forest. Editors Claudine Bouche and Dominique Petrot do wonderful work with the editing to play out a sense of rhythm in the film‘s suspense as well as some more low-key cutting in the dramatic moments. Art director Arnaud de Moleron and set decorators Pierre Griffon and Marc Thiebault do terrific work with the look of the woodsman’s dark cabin as well the look of Alice’s room in Paris.

Costume designer Pascaline Chavanne does very good work with the costumes as a lot of it is casual for the most part with the exception of the rugged woodsman. Sound editor Benoit Hillebrant does superb work with the sound from the quiet atmosphere of the scenes in the forest to the more raucous world of city life. The film’s music by Philippe Rombi, with additional music by Dave Henson, is a very electronic-based piece that plays up to the sense of energy that occurs in the young characters while the soundtrack consists of classical pieces from Antonio Vivaldi and Richard Wagner.

The casting by Stephane Foenkinos is excellent as it features some noteworthy small performances from Salim Kechiouche as the very slimy yet vain Said as well as a very complex performance from Miki Manojlovic as the woodsman who shows compassion towards Luc while treating Alice with disdain. The performances of Jeremie Renier and Natacha Regnier are brilliant for the way they deal with their actions as well as the trouble they encounter. Notably as Renier brings a naiveté to a young man who seems unsure about what he did while becoming confused over what is happening to him. Regnier has the more interesting role as the mastermind behind the murder as she adds many layers to her performance as a young woman who can be very manipulative but also cunning in her determination.

Les amants criminels is an excellent yet darkly-humorous film from Francois Ozon. Highlighted by the performances of Jeremie Renier and Natacha Regnier, it is a film that showcases Ozon’s talents as a provocateur as well as someone who clearly has a sense of humor when it comes to dark subject matters. In the end, Les amants criminels is a fantastic film from Francois Ozon.

Francois Ozon Films: See the Sea - Sitcom - Water Drops on Burning Rocks - Under the Sand - 8 Women - Swimming Pool - 5x2 - Time to Leave - Angel (2007 film) - Ricky - The Refuge - Potiche - In the House - Jeune & Jolie - (The New Girlfriend) - (Frantz (2016 film)) - (Double Lover) - (By the Grace of God) - Summer of 85 - (Everything Went Fine) - (Peter von Kant) - The Auteurs #33: Francois Ozon

© thevoid99 2013

The Dreamlife of Angels

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 5/16/08 w/ Additional Edits.

Directed by Erick Zonca, La Vie Revee des Anges (The Dreamlife of Angels) tells the story of two young, working class women in a small French town dealing with their harsh realities and a young comatose girl. Along the way, their friendship starts to diverge with different points of views as well as relationships in their lives. Written by Zonca and Roger Bohbot, the film explores the fragile friendship between two young women in a world that has few prospects and a slimmer future. Starring Elodie Bouchez, Natacha Regnier, Gregoire Colin, Patrick Mercado, and Jo Prestia. La Vie Revee des Agnes is a harrowing yet touching story of friendship from Erick Zonka.

In the north French town of Lille, a young woman named Isa (Elodie Bouchez) is trying to find work and shelter while wearing a large backpack. After meeting a Yugoslav boss (Zivko Niklevski), she finds a job sewing on a machine where she meets another young woman named Marie (Natacha Regnier) who is living in a flat that belongs to a woman and her daughter who are both in a coma after an accident. Isa asks if she can crash as the two become friends after they get into trouble with their boss at the sewing factory. The two women walk around town as they meet a couple of big bouncers name Charlie (Patrick Mercado) and Fredo (Jo Prestia). They befriend the big men as Marie finds herself enjoying the company of the big, burly Charlie as they continue to seek work around town.

While trying to get jobs including one at a club where they auditioned to be their favorite stars, they later go to a mall where they encounter a young man whose car they threw a rock at. He's later revealed to be the owner of the club Charlie and Fredo work at as Marie finds herself attracted to the man named Chris (Gregoire Colin). Isa meanwhile, learns about the owners of the flat as she reads the diary of the girl Sandrine (Louise Motte). She decides to see her at the hospital where she learned about her mother as Sandrine remains comatose. Feeling that the girl at least should know what's going on in her home, she writes a diary to tell her that she's in a coma as she reads the diaries to communicate with her. When Isa learns she got a job at the club passing out fliers in a silly costume and on roller skates, Marie refuses to do it as she wanders around into the bar where Chris' father owns as she begins an affair.

While Marie tries to secretly hide the affair from Charlie, Isa knows what's going on and she doesn't like it nor Chris whom she sees as a jerk who likes to be with a lot of women. The affair gets more intense and more self-destructive as one night when the two girls working at the club Charlie and Fredo work at, Marie leaves early as she sees Chris as the affair gets more troubling. Charlie knows what's going on as he talks to Isa where they both share their feelings about the affair. With Isa now coming to see Sandrine more, she learns that her uncle (Christian Cailleret) is planning to sell the flat. With the two women now forced to find new places to live, Isa confronts Marie about her affair after learning what Chris had told her. When Isa learns that Sandrine is sick, she decides to be closer to her while confronting about Marie's troubling state of mind as the two women deal with the loneliness that surrounds them.

Films about friendship often feature men that are sometimes buddy movies and such. Yet, there's not many movies about female friendship which in some ways are more interesting to tell. The script by Erick Zonca and Roger Bohbot with contributions by Virginie Wagon and Pierre Chosson, the film is essentially a study of isolation and how two different young women deal with loneliness. The story of two poor, penniless women dealing with trying to find jobs and companionship while leaning towards each only to be diverged by their different personalities. Isa, is a young woman who pretty lives by on whatever happens, happens while trying to maintain a sense of optimism through harsh realities. Marie is a young woman desperate for companionship while not wanting to fall in the same trap as her mother (Frederique Hazard) is doing with her father.

The script filled with wonderful development in character and in plot is told wonderfully through Zonca's observant yet wondrous direction is shot with great intimacy and style as he lets the camera follow the lives of these two young women. With some hand-held camera to show their lives, Zonca shows the girls in their similar struggles and the differences between them as they each live separate lives. The way Zonca captures the good times and later, the bad times that lead to an emotional climax for both women where the ending reveals a wide sense of where the two young women are going. The result is a film that is engrossing from start to finish to deal what young people had to go through to achieve happiness through harsh environments both physical and emotional.

Cinematographer Agnes Godard does superb work with the photography with no flashy lighting but a sense of realism in a verite style where the morning look in the interior settings are purely white and real. With a bit of grain to add to the look of realism, Godard's work is truly superb in the way she captures the dark look of the interiors to the vast location in Lille, France. Editor Yannick Kergoat does excellent work with the film's leisurely pacing while adding rhythmic jump cuts to give the film a sense of style. Production designer Jimmy Vansteenkiste does a great job with the look of the clubs and the flat that Isa and Marie live in to show a contrast of the environments they live and work at. Costume designer Francoise Clavel does a great job in the look of the costumes where the girls have a drab, loose look, Charlie and Fredo have a biker look, and Chris, a posh look.

Sound editor Muriel Moreau and engineer Jean-Luc Audy do an excellent job with the film's sound to capture the feel of the atmosphere and music clubs that the women work at that is true to the style of cinema verite. The film has no existing score except for a song right in the end by Yann Tiersen that is played around the film's final credits.

The casting by Antoine Carrard is superb as smaller performances by Frederique Hazard, Christian Cailleret, and Zivko Niklevski are memorable as is the performance of Louise Motte as the comatose Sandrine. Jo Prestia is good as the mean-looking Fredo who seems annoyed at the company of the two young women only to find a good time with them despite his mean personality. Patrick Mercado is excellent as Charlie, a big man with a big heart who treats the two girls, especially Marie kindness while helping them out with money and such. Gregoire Colin is good as the slimy, philandering Chris who likes to have rough sex with Marie and treat her horribly while humiliating her with other women only to show his true side to Isa.

The film's best performances truly goes to the duo of Elodie Bouchez and Natacha Regnier. Bouchez, who some might know her from her work on the TV show Alias is superb as the upbeat yet determined Isa, who is trying to find work and happiness while dealing with a dose of reality in Marie's self-destructive behavior and the comatose girl Sandrine. Bouchez also adds a sense of emotion through her minimalist performance in scenes that require huge drama but Bouchez's understated approach is just superb. Regnier delivers a brilliant performance as the troubled Marie who is desperate for companionship as she delves into an intense bout with loneliness and humiliation. Regnier's performance is certainly the most challenging as she brings a lot of angst and depth to the character. Yet, Bouchez and Regnier are extraordinary in their performances as the shine in the film which is why they both received the 1998 Best Actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

La Vie Revee des Agnes is a truly superb, touching, and powerful film from Erick Zonca led by the amazing performances of Elodie Bouchez and Natacha Regnier. Fans of female-led films will no doubt consider this a great film about female friendship while it's also one of the best European films of the 1990s. While the film isn't easy to watch, the story itself is universal as well as what the film is saying about young people that is still relevant to this day. In the end, La Vie Revee des Agnes is a must-see film for anyone who wants a real compelling story about friendship and loneliness.

(C) thevoid99 2012