O Quinto Set

Ok the ending was connected to the title but it could play out so much better than that. Whoever directed this movie, please do NOT direct any more movies. I never leave reviews here but this movie just motivated me to leave one.

At the beginning of the film, you see the lead character, a 38 years old tennis man, former great champion, watching a movie with his wife. An American movie which illustrates his own story, a kind of metaphor. This film is LONELY ARE THE BRAVE, starring Kirk Douglas, and telling the story of an old cowboy trying to survive in the modern world which doesn't accept him anymore. See what I mean, where I drive at? He and his wife watch on TV the scene when Kirk Douglas nearly dies and hears the shot of his horse, his old pal, being killed after an accident. I love this metaphor, related to the main lead character of the movie. If you are fond of tennis, or even not, only fond of films speaking of sport, as SLALOM was a few months before and talking about ski, you will like this feature, where Alex Lutz is totally perfect for the role. The previous French film speaking of tennis thatI remind was TERRE BATTUE, back in 2014, about a father, trainer of his young son, so not from the same angle. Terrific finale, awesome directing and camera work, tense, sharp as a razor blade, even if you don't know nothing about tennis.

There are some great things about this movie. The acting for instance works well (which was expected with such actors) and the characters are interesting. Also, there were many interesting ideas regarding how to show tennis games in a way that is different to what we see on TV. Obviously the subject matter will make it more attractive to people who enjoy tennis in the first place but I feel like the themes are fairly universal (the meaning of achieving something, finding purpose in life etc..) Overall I enjoyed the movie while it lasted and, had they come up with something more elaborate - anything really - for the ending, I would probably have found it a good movie. As it stands, it is disappointing, to say the least. Also, the colour treatment feels very dated already (think shades of orange, blue and grey). I am not sure if it was to be on brand with Roland Garros or a creative attempt to lift the grey vibe of Paris suburbs but I felt it was a bit too much at times.

I think what's most stellar about this film is how well it depicts what it means to dedicate your life to an achievement that may not come. As an intimate view into the life of a tennis player looking to redeem himself, the internal struggle to make it all mean something after wasting the best years of your life pursuing an unreachable goal is a reality for the vast majority of sportsmen. As said in one of the key scenes of the movie most of the people who try will just end up failing and that's what makes it poetic, true sportsmen won't listen to reason, they will go to the absolute limit of their physical and psychological boundaries. The movie depicts this masterfully, expertly shot, emphasizing the brilliant performances and with frenetic and the most accurate tennis moves and plays I've seen in a movie (there aren't many tennis movies that focus on the game itself ). To some, the ending might prove unsatisfactory but I think it's brilliant if you get what the movie is actually trying to convey. If you're a tennis fan like myself this is the best non-documentary film I've found by some margin.

Nice to see a decent quality sports movie from Europe, especially regarding tennis. Refreshing also to witness the story of an elite athlete who's not quite reached the top. Most elite athletes go through similar trials, but the media and tournaments obviously mainly highlight the very best of the best. The directing and acting was very solid, and must commend the tennis especially. Some sets here had me chearing together with the croud.

However, I just can't begin to describe how disappointing the ending is. Whatever you do as a filmmaker, don't take the easy way out, please. You've entertained your audience for almost two hours at that point and they deserve more. This movie would've receaved several stars more by me (and many others, I'm sure) if the filmmakers had bothered with telling a complete story. Endings are difficult, I know, but that's not an excuse to just not do an ending at all.