Des jours et des nuits

French Cinema is alive, thank you very much. Excellent film on TV5 about ancient Greek myth of Orpheus looking for Eurydice, transfigured into the present day. Ancient Greece re-incarnate, East meeting West. Non-judgmental and filmed with affection for people and the predicaments they can find themselves in. Starts in modern day French corporate existence, the main character experiencing a mid-life crisis. Gradually shifts to more rural scenery, first in France, then Greece. Intertwining of myth and reality leads to a mysterious climax which raises lots of questions that provide perfect food for thought. Je n'aurai qu'un mot: bravo.

I have really loved the film 'Des jours et des nuits' which I saw recently on TV5 Europe. It is beautifully acted by Stephane Freiss and Caterina Murino. Richard Deligny (Stephane Freiss) is a successful businessman and everything seems alright in his life - he is happily married, has a loving wife, a beautiful house, a grown-up son who is settled - but he starts seeing this woman in his dreams and progressively becomes obsessed by her. He is convinced that she is not only a dream but really exists and he wants to find her. This will lead him all the way to Greece. This film is a mixture of reality and fantasy and goes back in time to the Greece of 3000 years ago. The topics of love, death and reincarnation are treated here. The film starts with what seems to be the normal life of a man but gradually includes the world of dreams and visions which become intertwined with reality - what we see might not be what others see. Unfortunately for the general public, this was a film made for television and I think therefore that it does not exist on DVD or video.

This film has made me discover the actor Stephane Freiss. I am French myself but did not know this actor before. I have since found out that he had made quite a few films, especially films for television but he is certainly now a name to remember in French cinema. He made two films for cinema last year - 'Le Grand Role' and '5x2 (Cinq fois deux)'. He also acted in the French/American film 'Crime Spree' (called 'Wanted'in France) which is more easily available in video shops in the UK.

I saw "Des jours et des nuits" on the French satellite channel TV5 : it was French spoken with subtitles. It is the story of a happily married man who at a certain moment is convinced that a (beautiful) woman is in need of him. The acting is absolutely superb. Do not expect "action" like in Rambo movies but share with the principal character the painful dilemma about leaving his lovely wife for this outsider of which the psychiatrists tell him that she only exists in his fantasies... I am not French but I speak the language fluently, nevertheless even the "Anglophones" - having to read the subtitles - and looking further than the length of their nose will enjoy this movie.

but not very credible. Romantic, subtle, delicate, with slices of dream and grains of metamorphose but not very convincing. a man and a woman. memories from old time. a trip. an archaeologist. an isle. and circle is complete. but this Hallmarl production style is not really enough. sure, homage to great Greek legends, it is beautiful. but not more.and the expectations are many.sure, it is a question of taste. for prey of love, this film is magnificent, for dreamers, nice temptations, for tourist - invitation to a profound world of magic and signs of Antiquity. but far from that categories, the movie is only spring wind. charming. but not important.