L'île rouge

RED ISLAND (2024)- Robin Campillo's followup to his energetic and provocative B. P. M. Seems, at first, to be less confrontational and more evocative. It's another semi-autobiographical (as was B. P. M.) story, here showing Campillo's childhood in Madagascar. His character, a young boy, Thomas (Charlie Vauselle) is quite and observant. His brusque father, Robert (Quim Gutierrez) is stationed at the French Military base which has been imposed on the island's government. His mother, Colette (Nadia Tereszkiewicz) is caring if sometimes distracted.

Thomas and a young girl, Suzanne (Cathy Pham), share a love of the comic book, Fantomette - a masked and caped teen girl crusader. It's through their eyes that Campillo drifts the film into fantasy segments. They are beautifully realized by the film's team. Further, Campillo lets other scenes in the film float into almost dreamlike montages. Fine Cinematographer Jeanne Lapoirie (BPM, BENEDETTA) produces some stunning visuals, including a gorgeous outdoor nighttime movie screening at the seashore.

Campillo's screenplay (with two collaborators) is a bit hazy, allowing the visuals and the general mood to carry the movie. For much of the runtime, the method works due to the visuals and performances. It's only in the last act where the script brings the politics of the country's turbulent situation where it becomes a bit bumpy. RED ISLAND's end meaning is clear, but the steps along the way are blurred and don't blend well. It's still an effecting film, flaws and all.