The actor and director is back on January 1 with a cynical film, mixing satire and thriller, inspired by the cinema of the Coen brothers. A look back at three good reasons to see A bear in the Jura.
1 The dark and absurd comedy in the mountains
In a small hamlet in the Jura during the end-of-year holidays, Michel and Cathy come across a very large sum of money after a deadly road accident. Facing financial difficulties and a tiring daily life, the couple decides to keep the money and hide the traces of the accident, despite the ongoing police investigation and a succession of misunderstandings. A bear in the Jura is a satirical comedy which does not hide the inspiration and homage to the cinema of the Coen brothers – including the famous Fargo (1996) —, with a touch of Quentin Dupieux in the use of the absurd.
Between his graphic deaths, his punchy dialogues and a certain propensity for the macabre in the isolated and snowy plains of the Jura – which give the film its unique atmosphere – Franck Dubosc tries his hand at a new genre and succeeds in his bet.
2 Characterization of the characters
In addition to directing the film, Franck Dubosc plays one of the main roles, playing the sensitive and lost Michel, at the head of a small Christmas tree company that he manages alone with his wife, Cathy, played by the Excellent Laure Calamy. The characters all have a hidden side, dreams and hopes and behind convenience and appearance, they reveal themselves more or less in the ordeal.
Benoît Poelvoorde, for his part, plays a particularly tasty police commissioner, who tries to understand the situation and clarify this matter despite the pitfalls and the improbable aspect of this investigation. Also playing with the second degree and comedy register, the actor excels in the genre and establishes himself as one of the great successes ofA bear in the Jura.
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3 The human and social purpose
Behind the thriller and the comedy, A bear in the Jura also develops strong human relationships. The film thus depicts a young generation searching for itself, between the precariousness of daily life, disability, and the difficulty of opening up to others. Finally showing how necessity can lead either to extravagance or to illegality, A bear in the Jura has an assertive statement about money and does not hesitate to proclaim its truth: no one can remain upright and in agreement with their convictions when faced with a significant amount of money.
Without falling into pessimism, the film maintains its atmosphere of satire and black comedy, and achieves a very delicate balance. A nice surprise!
