“Dahomey”, “The Trial of the Dog”, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”…

What movies to watch this week (or not)? Every Wednesday, find our reviews of the latest theatrical releases.

“Dahomey” by Mati Diop: our favorite

Genre: statues live too. By filming the restitution in Benin of works once looted from the vanished kingdom of Dahomey, filmmaker Mati Diop succeeds in a fascinating reflection on Africa, on colonialism and on the history of civilizations. (With Gildas Adannou, Habib Ahandessi, Joséa Guedje. 1h08.)

“The Trial of the Dog”, by Laetitia Dosch

Genre: hilarious philosophical comedy. Cosmos bit a woman’s cheek, he ends up in court. A hilarious, and not so absurd, farce on the ordinary stupidity of our male friends. (With Laetitia Dosch, François Damiens, Pierre Deladonchamps. 1h25.)

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” by Tim Burton

Genre: sacred revenants. We take the same (or almost) and we start again. Thirty-six years later BeetlejuiceTim Burton rediscovers the desire to make cinema in his own way, luxuriously tinkered, and signs a macabre comedy led at a cracking pace. (With Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega. 1h44.)

“The Thread”, by Daniel Auteuil

Genre: classic plot. A lawyer close to retirement decides to defend a father accused of murdering his alcoholic wife. A classic, old-fashioned, well-executed trial film that distils a dull tension until the final, very disconcerting twist. (With Grégory Gadebois, Daniel Auteuil, Sidse Babett Knudsen. 1h55.)

“Silex and the City, the film”, by Jul and Guigue

Genre: makes sparks. The Stone Age family goes from comics to animated cinema, with a deluxe voice cast. Still as funny and piquant, even if the infernal pace of the story can be tiring. (With Guillaume Gallienne, Clément Sibony, Frédéric Pierrot. 1h20.)

“Foreign Language”, by Claire Burger

Genre: German inn. A French high school student who feels uncomfortable in her own skin gets closer to her German pen pal. A sensitive and seductive portrait of European youth, despite a somewhat heavy-handed didacticism. (With Josefa Heinsius, Lilith Grasmug, Nina Hoss. 1h45.)

“Anaïs, 2 chapters”, by Marion Gervais

Genre: Life is a novel. Filmed ten years apart, the two documentaries brought together in this film paint a devilishly endearing portrait of a young Breton farmer. And reveal the generous talent of the filmmaker Marion Gervais, who became her friend. (Documentary. 1h44.)

“Kill”, by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat

Genre: cut. A train, dozens of bandits and their knives facing two commandos of the Indian army: an inevitable and bloody clash. Killwe remember the rhythm, the staging of the fights and, above all, its energy of one-upmanship. (With Laksh Lalwani, Raghav Juyal, Tanya Maniktala. 1h45.)

“The Bahamas Effect”, by Hélène Crouzillat

Genre: macron resignation. This documentary on unemployment insurance wanders a little, while saying the essential: it is our mutualist system that we are unraveling reform after reform by orienting it less and less towards the interests of the workers, who are increasingly controlled. (Documentary. 1h35.)

“The Snow Leopard” by Pema Tseden

Genre: animal fable. In Tibetophone China, a snow leopard is imprisoned after devouring nine rams. While the breeder wants to kill him, a young monk seems to have formed a special bond with the animal… A beautiful film, weighed down by lengths and didacticism. (With Tseten Tashi, Jinpa, Ziqi Xiong. 1h49.)