Das Mädchen von gegenüber

'Un balcon sur la mer' (released in the English-language market under the strange title 'A View of Love'), the 2010 film by director and screenwriter Nicole Garcia (herself a prolific actress, but not in this film) combines two different stories: a romantic story of the reunion after 25-30 years with a teenage love separated by war, and a thriller built around the mysterious persona of a blonde woman who recalls some of Hitchcock's female characters. These would be the premises of a successful romantic thriller, and 'Un balcon sur la mer' partly succeeds in being such a film. I wrote 'partly' because it seemed to me that there was an obvious imbalance between the two narrative threads. The romance part is much better constructed and has more depth and even more mystery than the thriller part.

Nicole Garcia was born in Oran, Algeria and left her native country as many French nationals did at the end of the colonial period, during the years of civil war, bloody repression and terrorist attacks that preceded this country's independence. Oran also is at the origin of the story of the heroes in the film. Marc Palestro is a real estate agent, very well situated economically and socially, working in the company run by his father-in-law. In one of his business transactions, the buyer is a woman he seems to recognize as the girl he had a teenage crush for years ago, in the last days before he left Algeria in flames. The woman also recognizes him and a passionate reunion takes place. Marc's mother, however, seems to know that the little girl he had loved had died shortly after their emigration. Marc, confused, begins to investigate. Mysteries about the woman's identity pile up and complications arise also in the real estate transactions.

I will not tell more, so as not to deprive those who will see the film of the pleasure of the gradual discoveries. I'll just say that Jean Dujardin is excellent in the lead role, of the man whose emotional universe is devastated by memories of his youth and uncertainties about the identity of the woman he can't help but love. It's one of his first roles outside of the comic register and a good launching pad for the career that followed and continues. I don't remember having seen before the Quebec-born actress Marie-Josée Croze. She is excellent as Marie-Jeanne, the mysterious woman. Hitchcock himself would have considered her for casting. The formidable Claudia Cardinale appears in one scene as Marc's mother - what a pleasure to see her again after so many years. Another excellent actress, Sandrine Kiberlain, has too small a role for her immense talent. Out of this story, the only character who doesn't quite find his place is that played by Toni Servillo, Marie-Jeanne's elderly lover. The liaison between the two is not well justified. Overall, I found the thriller part to be lackluster. The writers and the director seem not to have been interested too much in it. We are left with an interesting love story and a game of memories, in which the different places where the story takes place have a common element - the luminous Mediterranean Sea.

Nicole Garcia was born in Oran, Algeria, in 1946, and grew to be a teenager there before the Algerian War and the coming Independence threw her and her family out of her birth place, in April 1962, when she was sixteen. A trauma for her and her nearest and dearest, which remained unspoken and even suppressed in the Garcia family and a theme that was bound to be examined some day by the actress turned writer-director.

It WAS but not before Nicole Garcia turned sixty. Moreover, she avoided a full frontal approach to the subject, maybe because she was frightened of the potential psychological damages a travel back in time could cause to her. Anyway, Nicole Garcia, aided by her faithful co-writer Jacques Fieschi, opted to weave her childhood memories into a fiction that links the present to the past.

The resulting story concerns Marc Palestro, a successful estate agent, whose comfortable, orderly life (complete with wife, daughter, beautiful house, high income, the lot...) is undermined by the appearance of Mme Mondonato, an attractive woman in whom he recognizes the little girl who was his childhood love back in Oran. From this moment on, Marc's both enchanted and troubled past resurfaces, and all he wants is to resume the romance, in a more adult way maybe, that had been brutally interrupted by the events in Algeria. What he does not realize at once is that things are more complicated than they appear...

All things considered, the director's roundabout way to confront her memories is pretty interesting. This choice indeed enables her to tell a rather captivating story with its exciting amount of enigmas, mysteries and plot twists, haunted by the presence of a mysterious woman and enriched by the debunking of a real estate scam. At the same time "Un balcon sur la mer" is a worthwhile meditation about how absurd it is to repress memories when you know the past will necessarily catch up with you and impose itself on you whether you like it or not.

With beautiful locations, most of which set in the South of France, "Un balcon sur la mer" proves both an entertaining and intelligent movie, with fine performances by its 'romantic' leading couple (Jean Dujardin, bringing manly charm to the insecure Marc Palestro, and Marie-José Croze, convincing as usual as the seductive but unpredictable Mme Mondonato).

It is on the acting side that I would spot the only flaws of this well-made film. Toni Servillo's Italian accent, on the one hand, is too thick, which sometimes makes the key character he plays difficult to understand. On the other hand, the role of the excellent Sandrine Kiberlain (as Marc's wife) should have been expanded. You do not give so little to do to such a talented actress.

However, these are only minor defects, which don't prevent "Un balcon sur la mer" from being an enjoyable movie. Having proved a good fiction director one more time (this is her sixth feature), how about a documentary about her French-Spanish-Algerian roots by Nicole Garcia?

The original French title of this film is UN BALCON SUR LA MER, meaning A BALCONY BY THE SEA, and the English title does the film no justice at all, compared to the evocative original. The film is 'made from the heart' by actress, writer, and director Nicole Garcia, who was born in Oran, Algeria, when Algeria was a French colony, and who had to flee in 1962 at Independence, because of the violence. This film concerns the tragic romantic loss suffered by three French teenagers whose young lives and affections for each other were torn apart by the events of 1962. A marvellous performance by Jean Dujardin in the male lead is delivered with such quiet suffering, such profound longing, that it adds a dimension of even greater authenticity to this film, which is authentic enough already, and is shot in numerous localities in France, at Oran in Algeria, and in Morocco. This film is truly a magnificent achievement, succeeding on every level. It works as a puzzling mystery story, as a psychological study, and as a romantic saga, all at once. It has a certain feel of du Maurier's REBECCA about it. If it had been made with Hollywood stars, it would have been world-famous by now, instead of languishing unnoticed except in France. The film certainly qualifies as a true work of art. It is very much an elegy to 'les temps perdu' ('a lost past time'). Nicole Garcia does not appear in the film as an actress, but in addition to directing it, she was the co-writer of the story which must to a considerable extent be autobiographical. Sandrine Kiberlain is the uncomprehending wife, looking after her home, unaware of the depths of emotion swirling through her husband's head, a role similar to that which she played in THE APARTMENT (L'APPARTEMENT, 1996, see my review). The exciting Marie-Josée Croze (a french Canadian actress by origin) is the mysterious woman who haunts the story and the thoughts and dreams of Dujardin, and who may come to haunt those of the viewer as well. She will shortly appear in a Working Title film of Sebastian Faulks's marvellous BIRDSONG, about the First World War, which I saw not so long ago brilliantly staged as a play in London. It is a film to look forward to (to be released in 2012), and it will be good to see more of Croze. There is a surprise appearance by Claudia Cardinale in a cameo, and it is good to see her still at work. I do not wish to spoil this marvellous film for viewers by saying too much about the story. Just see it.

ACADEMY AWARD winner Jean Dujardin (in 2012 he won for THE ARTIST) and "The Girl Across the Road"

A real estate agent (Jean Dujardin) from Aix-en-Provence meets an attractive client (Marie-Josee Croze) who turns out to be his primary school sweetheart. This makes him remember more and more of his childhood in Oran, Algeria. Although happily married (Sandrine Kiberlain as his wife), he gets involved in an affair with his childhood friend. But something doesn't seem right...

Nicole Garcia has shot a beautiful romantic thriller with bright images from Aix, Nice, Marbella and Oran. Of course it's about the French's unresolved trauma in Algeria, but Hitchcockian elements are also not neglected.

The wonderful Toni Servillo (Il Divo / Gomorrha) and the great Claudia Cardinale (Il Gattopardo / Cera una volta il West) also act in roles.

Once again great actor cinema from France!

I am sure some of us still have, on occasion, flashing memory of our childhood love subjects. We can be adults and settled into a homely life style. But if your memory is still robust, a trip to the past is common - especially if you are getting older.

"Balcony on the Sea", a name which I prefer, is a top-notch romance from France. It blends mystery with a love story, and with a the plot which is very credible and moving.

Both Jean Dujardin (of 'The Artist' fame) and Marie-Josee Croze are great in their leading roles. Director Nicole Garcia's steady and conventional directing is perfect to tell this tale, with flash back to childhood life in Algiers. I also find the ending subtle and satisfying. Highly recommended for those who yearn for a good romance story. Meanwhile, I will try to seek out more work by this director.