MILLENNIUM BABIES: "Ponette" Vs "Class Trip"

INTRODUCTION: Accomplished French directors Doillon and Miller have both chosen to centre their latest projects on the inner mental life of children, creating between them a fascinating insight into the process of maturation.

SYNOPSIS: In "Class Trip" school boy Nicolas (Van Den Bergh) lives with his overprotective father (Roy) and mother (Sportolaro) along with his little brother (Jacon). When he is finally able to convince them to let him go on the annual school skiing trip it is on the proviso that his father drive him their and back. Potential social suicide but Nicolas has no choice but to accept.

Upon arrival at the chalet he is left in the custody of school teachers Miss Grimm (Bercot) and Patrick (Verhoeven), but his father drives off with his luggage. Forced to borrow pyjamas from school mate Hodkann (Nalcakan) and to sleep without his protective rubber under sheet, Nicolas spends a restless first night. When his father fails to return the following morning, and proves to be out-of-contact, Nicolas' imagination starts to run wild wondering what could of happened to him.

In "Ponette" the four year old Ponette survives the sort of car wreck that Nicolas fanaticises about. Awakening in hospital to find out that her mother was not quite so lucky, the young Ponette struggles to come to terms with the loss as we follow her through to eventual resolution.

Unable to cope her bereaved father (Xavier Beavois) places her in to the care of her Aunt (Clare Nebout) until she begins at boarding school. Her she flirts with Catholicism and a truly bizarre derivative of Judaism before reaching enlightenment courtesy of a miraculous vision.

REVIEW: Doillon continues his preoccupation with increasingly younger subjects by following his study of teen sexuality "La Fille de Quinze" and his moving portrayal of adolescent suicide "Le Jeune Werther" by looking at how a toddler deals with bereavement, following her through the stages of DABDA, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. While Miller gets in on the act by taking a look at a child's Oedipal fantasies of taking revenge upon his father.

Both are ambitious projects which rest solely on the shoulders of their young leads. Fortunately Thivisol and Van Den Bergh provide two of the most impressive child debuts since the young McCauly Culkin first burst onto our screens.

"Ponette" wowed audiences on the continent, thanks largely to a stunning performance from four year old Thivisol. Who puts in a magnificent performance which won her the best actress prize at the Venice Film Festival that year, some what of a method actress she apparently insisted that Doillon scolded her, whenever she was required to cry, whether you believe that story or not it is still a stunning performance as indeed are those given by her young co-stars. The significantly older Van Den Bergh puts in a more self conscious performance in "Class Trip" but is also able to more deeply explore the character he inhabits.

The adults in "Ponette" are largely relegated to the sidelines as her atheistic father, her devout Catholic Aunt and various school staff seem to have little to say in this battle for a young girls soul, apart from the occasional attempts to draw her into there own preferred belief system, a recently bereaved four year old girl presumably being the perfect convert for Catholicism. "Class Trip" on the other hands places it's three adult leads at the centre of the action exploring the effects that the heroic figure of Patrick and the object of lust Miss Grimm have in Nicolas' mental revolt against his father's overbearing influence.

"Class Trip" cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman and his opposite number on "Ponette" both clearly adore the French countryside, portraying it in all its beautiful hues. They are also able to portray the children's fantasy worlds without ever resorting to the stylised visuals of the similarly themed "The Butcher Boy". "Class Trip" editor Anne Lafarge keeps her film constantly moving, the blurring of the line between Nicolas' fantasies and the real world leaves the audience constantly on edge. "Ponette" however does tend to drag on a bit, while Homer Simpson once managed to make it through the stages of DABDA if 30 seconds Ponette takes considerably longer. "Class Trip" builds up to a stunning conclusion that leaves more questions than it answers, by comparison one can't help but feel that the ending of "Ponette" is some what of a cop-out although Doillon claims it came from interviews with children that have been through the process.

If "Ponette" is the superior of the two movies it is entirely due to Thivisol's naturalistic portrayal of the lead.

MUTT'S RATING: Ponette: **** Class Trip: ***

Home | Reviews | Reputations | Contact the Lizard