La fabrique des sentiments

For a movie that's called Feelings Factory (international/english title), there's not many feelings floating around here. Of course this is meant to be like that, to show us, that right now there is not much love floating around.

And even if we believe in the "concept" of love, we try to find it the wrong ways. Like at love shows, on the internet etc. (not actually anything that is in the movie, those are just examples). Well the good news is, that it achieves it's goal. The bad news? It achieves it's goals! While the characters are portrayed great by the actors, you're not really into them. You're not really feeling them or care for them, that much. Which leaves you with a bad taste at the end of the movie or at least a confused feeling ...

What an interesting movie, very brilliant, smart, subtle, what a terrific character analysis, study, thru a incredibly realistic story. The search for love that a young woman desperately intends by meeting men, all kind of men; The true face of what the real life is for thousands of people. The story telling is genuinely French and I guess many audiences liked this story, in which they could recognize themselves. It is not a comedy, that's why I love this story. It is not lighthearted, but on the contrary serious, a bit gloomy, bitter. The true face of life, the search of a meaning to live, to love.

Given its modest ratings, I did not expect much of this movie. I had the pleasure of being proved wrong. The subject (or rather the basis) of the story is speed dating. Members of groups of men and women get to know each other cursorily in a seven minute conversation. The women remain seated, the men switch from one woman to another after each time interval (marked somewhat comically by a sort of stage director striking a triangle). Then they are free to make follow up appointments with one or several potential partners.

Eloïse (Elsa Zylberstein), a thirtysomething woman is attractive, elegant and reasonably charismatic. She is a successful property lawyer in Paris, lives in a spacious, tastefully decorated flat, drives a newish car and has a supportive group of friends. She also bonds warmly with her family. Nevertheless she has not been in a solid relationship for a long while, is lonely and yearns for a stable partner and her own family. She engages in speed dating and forges ephemeral relationships. The film is in part a satire of the business; perfect strangers try carefully thought out routines on each other that mix candor with pretense and playacting, sometimes amusingly.

What makes this movie different is the ending, where reality mixes with fantasy in an unexpected way. Acting is first rate, especially from Zylberstein; the whole film rests squarely on her shoulders and she is on screen in almost every scene. She rises to the challenge brilliantly. Production values are first rate and director Jean-Marc Moutout moves the action fluidly. Last but not least sappy songs (the bane of many recent French movies) are kept to a minimum. If we look for an objection, it would be that outstanding Palestinian actress Hiam Abbas is given a role below the measure of her skills. A movie worth watching.