LA VIE REVEE DES ANGES (THE DREAM LIFE OF ANGELS) |
| CREDITS: Director: Erick Zonca. Cast: Elodie Bouchez, Natacha Regnier, Gregoire Colin,
Jo Prestia & Patrick Mercado. France 1998. INTRODUCTION: The closing film of the year's Edinburgh Film Festival and hence sadly out of competition, this French masterpiece combines the slacker ethos with the continental way of life. SYNOPSIS: French slacker chick Isa (Bouchez) wanders aimlessly across France before encountering the belligerently disaffected Marie (Regnier). An instant camaraderie leads Marie to offer Isa a bed at the flat she is watching for a comatosed family. The two immediately become good friends, until events threaten to tear them apart. REVIEW: This rare French entry into the slacker comedy/drama cannon, shows us a side of French life only tantalisingly hinted at in the likes of "Western" and "Salut Cousin". Zonca's feature debut, after a string of successful shorts, relies entirely on the power of its two leads. Bouchez is captivatingly charming in the role of Isa and Regnier successfully pulls of the trickier role of Marie. The two leading ladies fittingly shared the best actress award at Cannes, while Colin, Prestia & Mercado provide excellent, if thankless, support as the men in the Girls' lives. For me this enthralling character drama was one of the most powerful films of the festival and the concluding scene will remain with me for a long time to come. Continental slacking par excellence. Mutt's Rating: ***** |