MoMA was doing a recent retrospective which focused on the films of Durs and the actress Ogier and I decided it looked interesting enough to check out. I'm really happy that I did. It's a bit unusual for sure, but at the same time thoroughly engaging. There are large chunks where the dialogue is somewhat sparse, but even then the atmosphere was palpable and the 'action' continuous. The entire cast is great, in particular Renaud as the mother, and Ogier. The direction by Duras is inventive and well done. So the elderly mother from 'the colonies' is visiting her adult son in France. We never learn the specific colony as it doesn't really matter. She is very hungry and after some consternation they manage to feed her as they all sit down to eat in whatt is a very funny scene. The second half of the film takes place in a restaurant, which is super interesting and atmospheric, all accompanied by a wonderful jazz score. What exactly happens in Entire Days in the Trees and what does it all mean . . . I'm not completely sure. But I am sure that it is a film definitely worth checking out.
