nycterr

FILM SOCIALISME is very important movie, for what it is and for it says.

FILM SOCIALISME deals with: Europe, democracy, money, capitalism, information, generations, myths, water and the sun.

It is interesting to see it because of (1) the technical aspect of it for those who understand that cinema is not only content but also the shape, and (2) images+words because it basically shows us the state of the civilization (minus américa, but be aware Americans, Godard does not like you).

Of course, as any post-1970 Godard, it is complicated, there are more questions than answers, and if you try to digest the movie while watching it you will end up frustrated. Try to be relaxed when you watch it, and do not fall in the trap of "modern art", because Godard is not modern art. Godard is way more straightforward than what it looks like. When Godard shows a word on screen, the word is what it is, and that's it.

JLG has said in a recent interview (with Telerama) that Cinéma is actually dead, that there is nothing to do with it anymore, that he gives up. He might be right.

A high school teacher loses it and ends up holding hostages half her class, turning the situation into a reflexive introspection on the various crisis of modern youths.

Isabelle Adjani, very pretty in her white skirt and blazer, and rolled-up sleeve holding "caids" at gunpoint, is unpredictable and convincing - the rest of the cast, amateur or not, is very weak.

The subject (education and equality) is strong, very relevant and more to-the-point than the very flat and bland take of the last Palmes d'Or "Entre les Murs".

La Journée de la Jupe takes it to another level, more brutal, more real and less entertaining. Less humor and more critical analysis.

The two weakness of the movie are the very feeble and bad acting on almost all the characters. And the overuse of Issues. During the hour and half, the movie feels obliged to tackle every single issues possible: from gang rape to condoms, from Islam to immigration, from respect to racism ... Too much. I was almost waiting to hear about Finance or the Ozone layer ....

Interesting subject but awkward construction.

Khamsa is the story of a young gypsy, "Marco" 11 years old, who comes back to his camp after an umpteenth runaway. Marco then re-bonds with his long time friends and cousins. You will then follow him in his plunge into the fragile world of thefts, scams and violence. The main actors are young kid, most of them non-professional and they deliver a striking performance. You also cross the path of the living magma which defines the camp life and the clear reality: we do not live in the same world. This kind of "social cinema", terminology refused by the director, signifies the breaks, the junction between those who and those who have not. Marco and his friends make money out of the financial system. Marco and his friends are not protected by the police. Marco and his friends do not go to school. They dream of dogfights and burning caravans.

Amazing movie. Beautiful setting, imagery and editing.