Les premiers les derniers

The First, the Last is a Belgian film noir in which all the characters are seedy lowlifes. A moron couple are on the run, but also searching for a child they seem to know little about. Two tough older losers are being paid by a gangster to find a missing cellphone. The two pairs interact with each other and with another gang of local thugs.

Why should we care? Because each of the main characters has a distinct and interesting personality which is revealed through their dialogue and reactions. And because the film is full of quirky insights and unexpected sidetracks. And because the characters change and grow as the film progresses.

The photography is outstanding: Belgium is shown as unrelentingly gloomy, grey, rainy, flat, dirty, squalid... and that's in the daytime shots.

There are two unexpected cameo appearances by veteran Swedish actor Max von Sydow and by Jesus, both speaking French!

There are a few loose ends in the film. For example, at one point one of the cellphone hunters is hosted by a local woman and her daughter. A large wounded deer collapses in front of her house. (We never find out who shot the deer.) Although the women have a shotgun, they give it to their guest and insist that he put the animal out of its misery. Once killed, they load it onto the man's pickup truck. Why don't they eat it? Nobody in this film has much money.

As is inevitable these day, some of the takes run on too long. But the viewer is seldom bored.

The story of "Les premiers les derniers" is the crime story of two bounty hunters searching for the mobile phone of a gangster boss containing valuable information.

The essence of the film is however the desolation of Northern France. This desolation was also the subject of "Ca commence aujourd'hui" (1999, Bertrand Tavernier).

In "Ca commence aujourd'hui" the desolation is ilustrated by people (pupils of an elementary school with problematic situations at home, for example alcoholic parents). In "Les premiers les derniers" the desolation is illustrated using infrastructure and buildings. In the opening scene we see an endless viaduct cutting through a flat landscape. It is not entirely clear what the original use of the viaduct has been, but it is quite clear it has lost its function by now. In the opening scene it is used as a hiking trail by two petty criminals on the run.

In the rest of the movie we encounter buildings we could describe at best as industrial heritage (and as slums if we are a little more honest).

In one of the most memorable scenes the lead characters encounter a deer with majestic antlers in an abandoned warehouse. The symbolism is twofold.

In the first place that of nature taking back territory it has lost earlier to human civilisation. In the second place the vitality that the antlers radiate and that the main characters are slowly losing.

The scene is beautiful, but is also indicative for the fact that the proper balance between story (rather thin) and symbolism (rather extensive) has been lost.

In two supporting roles we encounter Michael Lonsdale (85 at the time of production) and Max von Sydow (87 at the time of production). They deliver a very solid performance, in some respects even better than that of the lead actors. Given their age their performance deserves all the respect, but for me it is a sign on the wall when the supporting actors surpass the lead actors. Just like a pop concert were the supporting act sounds better than the main band.

Bounty hunters but in a lost countryside, French-speaking to boot. Off-the-wall characters but so human each in their own way. Contempory movie but in a out-of-time place, with an "end of time" atmosphere. This movie cultivates its pecularities, not all reaching their target. But we follow these adventures, the evolution of the 2 heroes and are touched by the search of humanity that we witness. Will these 'last' men be very different from the first?

If you like Jarmusch you will love this film. Excellent plans - photography at the county side. Old bridges and factories, forests and long roads. Characters out of limits with strange interests. Huge local villagers, "killers", a lunatic couple and Jesus himself! You can find and a connection with Jim's "lovers" by the motel owner. Keeps interest from the start till the end. Film noir, road movie, black influence,perfect result.

This tale captivates with its photography from its first frame. It tells of two less than average intelligence people in their twenties who find each other and set out on a quest to see the woman's estranged daughter. They cross paths with two crusty, experienced bounty hunters who are involved in their own bizarre adventure. The interaction between these four characters is funny, strange, and uplifting as they weave their way through various challenging situations. The prime value of the film is in the acting of the characters who make you love them no matter how unusual their actions might seem. This is a film not to be forgotten because of its dramatic visual images, its dialogue, and the sensitive acting that creates great sympathy for those who struggle to accomplish what they believe to be necessary using their diminished intelligence to the best of their abilities.