Ce jour-là

In this comedy of homicidal manners, people keep trying to kill both the sprite-like madwoman Livia (Elsa Zylberstein, gorgeously weightless) and her would-be assassin, the tottering madman Pointpoirot (Bernard Giraudeau, appropriately blank), and naturally there's a huge inheritance and a government conspiracy involved. Ruiz's staging is flawless, and the killing scenes in particular are exemplary - he knows when it's funnier to follow the characters, and when it's funnier to sit the camera dead still. I don't know if it all means any more than "Battle Royale" - Zylberstein said that Ruiz came to the conclusion in mid-shoot that it was a metaphor for Pinochet's violence, which may or may not be consistent with what we see on screen. Still, at least it takes the trouble to set up jokes properly, and it's not till the last third that they start seeming repetitive. I'm more or less neutral on this one.

With Ce jour-la (That Day), writer-director Raoul Ruiz has spun a masterful absurdist comedy.

A clearly mad (but sweetly angelic) Livia (the perfectly cast Elsa Zylberstein) consults her 'runes' and determines that her 'heaven' -- the titular 'Day' -- is on its way. Sweet atonement, whatever that means. She meets Pointpoirot (Bernard Giraudeau), a murderous (but amiable) psychopath, when she tries to murder him with a hammer, a symbolic weapon that lingers in the film.

As mayhem surrounds them and the bodies pile up (they're regularly rearranged neatly), the Swiss policemen sip coffee, chat, and do nothing. Everything, they say, will work itself out. This lassitude by officialdom is, by itself, hilarious, refreshing and revealing.

This is not just a brilliant flight into what used to be called 'gallows humour'. Ruiz' tale could be an allegory on that 'banality of evil' we've heard so much about; it could be a metaphor for our indifference to killing everywhere; it could be an escape from the murderous madness plaguing the world. Read what you will into it; this is a work of art disguised as comedy. It's a deliciously way-off-centre film that can upset us too much if we really think about it.

I loved seeing the always-magnetic French film veteran Michel Piccoli as the patriarch. He's still explosive after all these years. I stopped watching Hollywood movies about a year ago, and Ce jour-la confirms why. Since La-la Land loves to swipe European movie ideas, we might see a remake, a light comedy perhaps, something with, say, Cameron Diaz and Jack Black set around, oh, a state fair?

Well, I should not lie. I did not actually see the movie since I walked out after about 30 to 45 minutes. It was unbearable. I am quite shocked that other viewers have compared this filmmaker to Bunuel, a great director, no questions asked. Ce jour-là was absurd, which can be good, but it was also grotesque, gory and idiotic. The acting was quite painful : artificial and overstated. The jokes were not funny, the dialog was heavy and anything but subtle. The plot was the least offensive part of this movie but it was not good enough to make me want to stay until the end and suffer through a long 105 minutes (or so). Unless the second half miraculously redeems the first one, I would advise any potential viewers to save their money and rent a Bunuel instead.

This is a great movie. From the very beginning it's clear that this isn't a typical comedy or a typical drama. However odd, it works. Each murder is committed under such strange circumstances that they create great comic moments. If you go to see this, stay 'till the end. It's all explained (however vaguely). Very, very funny.

This wonderful 'who-done-it'& why' Bunel-esque movie is a hit at the 2004 SAN FRANCISCO International Film Festival!

Everyone in the audience loved this sureal quirky mystery about greed with the beautiful Elsa Zylberstein playing the 'insane' Livia who is tracked down by an escaped 'mental patient' Pointpoirot played wonderfully by Bernard Giraudeau.

The director is a master of story telling combining surealism, comedy, suspense and heartfelt moments.

After the movie, the beautiful Ms. Zylberstein provided a wonderful commentary about the film making process, the director, and her role . Especially pertinent was the explanation of the symbolism of the 'dinner party' to actual events during the military dictatorship in Chile.

Incredible film, which hopefully will be distributed and later available on DVD! (I want it in my DVD collection!)