Cinema releases: “Playing with Fire”, “The Brave”, “Typical Emil”

“Play with fire”

Pierre has two sons and raises them alone. Where the youngest, Louis, succeeds in his studies and takes a path mapped out in advance, the eldest, Fus, is more problematic. It all starts with a rumor that Pierre hears during a work meeting. His eldest would frequent a far-right group. But how do we know if it’s the truth? To do this, Pierre observes and ends up discovering that Fus is indeed falling into radicalization. So he tries to reason with him. But it is too late and Fus ends up being caught.

This new film by the Coulin sisters opts for sobriety and observation, espousing the view of the father, Vincent Lindon, who was rightly awarded an acting prize in Venice. The rigor and composition of the framing, the economy of the story familiarize us with a drama in which each part reinforces what has been constructed before. Locking himself in a vice generated by his own demons, Fus composes a lost character, opposed in every way to his model brother.

The dark side for Benjamin Voisin, the light for Stefan Crepon, two irreconcilable tendencies that only blood ties can preserve. One is the mirror of the other, like two sides of the same existence, with this question, to which “Playing with Fire” does not provide an answer: how do we come to join the extreme right ? Bright.

Note: ***

•= hateful, °= at your own risk, *= good, **= interesting, ***= excellent, ****= masterpiece

“Jane Austen ruined my life”

What is most surprising about this film by Laura Piani is its title. That being said, beneath its irreverent exterior, it hides the sentimental questions of a young bookseller whose love life is a desert while she dreams of a Jane Austen romance. Rarely highlighted and even less in a leading role, although she has been filming for almost fifteen years, Camille Rutherford imposes her discreet presence and imprints the entire footage with her contrasting personality. It helps to unlock the very Franco-French imprint of sentimental drama, a genre which is hardly renewed despite the efforts of multiple authors, from Emmanuel Mouret to Jean-Pierre Améris.

Another notable fact, Laura Piani breathes English-speaking nuances into this comedy, which her past as a bookseller at the Shakespeare & Co store in Paris could explain. It is therefore ultimately a very literary form, and based on deconstruction, that its author shows, offering in passing an important role to the excellent Pablo Pauly.

Note: **

•= hateful, °= at your own risk, *= good, **= interesting, ***= excellent, ****= masterpiece

“Typical Emil”

Emil Steinberger by himself. In this way we could summarize or define this documentary which reveals to us the life and work of undoubtedly the most famous comedian on the Swiss scene. No episode is missing, several archival documents serve as a narrative thread, and we end up understanding, even if no analysis is attempted in this direction in this film by Phil Meyer, the extreme popularity of this man who continues, at 92 years old, toying with projects.

The classic structure of the documentary is welcome here. The director never attempts to gain height or distance from his subject. Emil, on stage or with the Knies, remains at the heart of everything, a providential comic that the public has always adored, including in French-speaking Switzerland, where linguistic differences can be fatal.

Note: **

•= hateful, °= at your own risk, *= good, **= interesting, ***= excellent, ****= masterpiece

“The Brave”

How can a woman, a mother, a neighbor, prove to others, especially those close to her, that she is a good woman? Jule (superbly played by Ophélia Kolb, who can currently be seen in the series “Panda”) – that’s her name – raises her three children as best she can. That is to say with little money, little help, few means.

Under electronic surveillance (for what reason? mystery), she sometimes crosses the red line, but continues to stand up to this existence which never does her any favors. It is by observing it that “The Courageous” by Jasmin Gordon acquires its full meaning. The film is her, and the movement she gives it determines its rhythm. To discover for all these reasons.

Note: ***

•= hateful, °= at your own risk, *= good, **= interesting, ***= excellent, ****= masterpiece

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