Asphalte

A little multi-layered French comedy. The making was not unusual, but the storyline was. Based on the autobiography of the director. There could be more to come, so a sequel is possible like the Roy Andersson's 'Living' trilogy. There was similarity is style of storytelling, yet it was more clear on what it narrated for us.

I'm not sure of the timeline, but it seems at least 10-20 years back. Guessing it with the settings. It was about the lives in an apartment building. Divided into three layers, the first one was about a man living on the second floor who never uses the elevator. But the time comes for him without other options. He meets a nurse in her break and befriends. So it continues for days.

On the second tale, an American astronaut becomes a guest in one of the residences where an old immigrant lady lives. Coming to the third and final, a teenage boy meets an actress who recently moved in to the next door. Their's friendship growing despite the generation gap was focused on. How all these tales begins and ends were the fun to watch.

-xX] It's weird to see you in the film. It's like you're a different person, from another life. [Xx-

From all, Isabelle Huppert's presence made my curiosity about the film. She's the one who played an aging actress, I think she was good. Everybody else as well, quite good. Because it was not a high budget sci-fi film. But about individuals. Their lifestyle, profession and looking for something anew in life. So that's what makes the story, when they meet different people out of their normal surroundings.

Each character was distinctive. So it was hard to predict the outcome, yet feels so close to familiarity with everything that happened. Not a straight comedy, it was more of a black-comedy. Though some parts were sensible. The blend of life drama and comedy with the wonderful performances lifted the film. Michael Pitt was the other familiar face in it. They kind of made fun of the American space agency, while the Hollywood acknowledging with super higher end products.

So, this is like another under-noticed film. But it is not like deserves major attention, except if you a cinephile. Other than that if you want to try it, then you should too. It surely won't disappoint. People hunt films with big names, but such small films like this can deliver somewhat better than those big flicks. I was a little late to watch it, in the end, I'm happy I did it. Now I want to spread the word, that it is definitely not an ignorable title for those who haven't heard about it. So thumbs up!

7/10

As I started to watch "Asphalte" (~Macadam Stories), I was expecting to watch a good / standard festival style movie. It was in a suburb of a city in France. Usual style, usual narration. Till the striking scene, I thought like that. I don't want to give a spoiler. Then movie changed, so changed. I must say, Asphalte is one of the most creative, brand new style movie. The language of the director, Samuel Benchetrit is so so different and made me so impressed. The composition of the stories in the movie, the characters, the stream of the movie is unbelievable. I never imgained that I would like this movie so much. To see such a creative movies make one pleased, hopeful and excited about the future of making movie. All players / artists are definitely 5 stars. Their successes in their performance are definitely equal. In the end of the movie, you have found yourself as you were saying "Wauv, such movies can be made! Bravo!" Thanks to the whole team for such a great production!

Despite this movie last 1h40, it ends so quickly... I would like to follow this tenderness limbo so much more... I read the books "Chroniques de l'Asphalte", and the style and truthness of simple people is all here in this movie. I think the stories are quite different, so I really hope Samuel does another "sequel", like he did with his books. Hollywood usually bet on extraordinary people, Samuel bet on real ones, simple moments where the true magic of life appear. Too many people, me included, forget what is love, human and share themselves instead of copying others. Suburbs are beautiful, that's the part the director choose to screen, and I can't express my admiration enough! Thanks also to the whole team, the actors who were great for accomplishing such a "normal" and tender movie! Be aware that there is no exaggeration, pretension or stereotypes in it, only some strange events that participate in the magic of life.

This movie is sad and funny in the same time. This is a separate stories tale that takes place in a tumble down building, in the suburb of a big city. Poverty row. That's the setting. In this building, first you have a lonely cripple man in his wheel chair who, after a vascular accident - Gustave Kervern - tries to date a night nurse of the local hospital - Valeria Bruni Tedeshi - who is also a lonely soul. This scheme is an open tribute to BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY; even the dumbest could see it. Second, you have another weirder scheme, tribute this time to GRAVITY and a slice of 2001 SPACE ODYSSEY, and showing an American astronaut arriving from space after the collapse of his rocket ship and finding shelter in a flat of the building, helped by a lonely woman, mother of her convict son. A lonely woman, of course. And the third story shows a former actress - Isabelle Huppert - who has lost all her shining stardom and who befriends a young man living on the same floor. This third scheme is probably a tribute to a movie I don't exactly know, maybe a IsabelleHuppert's film. I would not be surprised. One important thing, those three tales are told with a pretty good editing. You have not here three stories shown one after the other... See what I mean? Go and see it. It's worth watching.

The movie is hilarious!!! :D Subtle humor, original setting, everything here is done with a lot of care!:)

while I was watching I wanted it to last forever, but unfortunately it ended :D