The Odyssey

This is a beautiful, poignant film, which artfully uses a (true) family story to magnify a larger global tragedy, of which we are all a part. The audience of which I was a part, was moved to silence and stillness at the end of the film. I left the movie house changed for the better and in deep introspection.

Unfortunately, the film is only available in French, as far as I know, which limits its exposure. The film provides much food for thought and reflection as well as impressive images of our beautiful and precious world, which we so ashamedly, if without malice, neglect. As you can tell, I highly recommend this film.

Lambert Wilson is the innovative underwater explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau in this rather unremarkable depiction of his life and career. He is married to Simone (Audrey Tautou) but has a bit of a wandering eye so they become maritally estranged, even though they continue to live and workout on their converted WWII minesweeper "Calypso". Needless to say, this puts some strain on the rest of the family, not least upon his relationship with his publicity magnet, heart-throb, eldest Philippe (Pierre Niney). The latter man's character is used as a barometer a little here to measure the actions of his father. The exploration activities must face stark realities. Money is needed to buy the 1½ tons of fuel the ship needs each trip, and that's before wages and other costs associated with their more scientific endeavours have to be paid. This leads to Cousteau becoming more of a businessman with almost corporate responsibilities. It's those activities that see a split between father and son that lasts until a trip to the Antarctic that sees a well documented tragedy hit the family. For the most part this is a soap opera of a film with nowhere near enough focus on what made the man famous in the first place. There is some underwater photography to liven things up, and a sequence with an expanding group of sharks that's quite menacingly filmed, but there's not really enough of that to compensate for the listless melodrama that's played out. The camera does love Niney and Tautou, and Wilson is competent enough in what is essentially a light-weight and slightly adulatory tale of a man who was clearly much more interesting, flawed and charismatic than we see here.

Jean - Jacques Cousteau was one of heroes of my my childhood. His lovely documentaries, his explanations, his work and passion are source of precious memories. This film changes nothing. Only gives new nuances to the familiary story. The realism is the basic tool for that, as result of a coherent, correct, precise story and admirable performances. The choice and the way of a man and his family. I admire the impecable job of Lambert Wilson. I love the great work of Audrey Tautou. And the inspired cinematography. Short, a necessary film. Impecable crafted.

Currently at the age of 57, it's fair to say that, hearing the name {Jacques Cousteau}, be it random conversation w others, catching it on the radio or perhaps, seeing him on a TV special or documentary, was as common an occurrence over the decades (before his death), as was waking up, to cartoons every Saturday morning (during that era).

For those unfamiliar w the name & legacy of Jacques Cousteau, this is an important & smart film, especially for those possessing a concentrated interest, in the historical perspective, of such a profound conservationist (so far ahead of his time).

Personal Disclosure: As an individual that does not adopt to the supposition, of anthropomorphic climate-change, it is important to note that, much of Cousteau's efforts, during the last (almost) two-decades of his explorations, were given, to legitimate environmental concerns. And, going forward, he invested his life's work, exposing & educating the world, on the ramifications of unchecked pollution, and subsequently, the needless and/or, haphazard slaughtering, of any species (to the point of extinction).

The Odyssey, did & will continue, to help generations to come, remember the life & legacy of such a special individual (and family).

During the entire movie, which was beautifully shot, I felt it was written by his wife with jealousy rather than telling a story of the great man he was and the discovery. For me it's a family story. Too bad