Asphalte

This movie is sad and funny in the same time. This is a separate stories tale that takes place in a tumble down building, in the suburb of a big city. Poverty row. That's the setting. In this building, first you have a lonely cripple man in his wheel chair who, after a vascular accident - Gustave Kervern - tries to date a night nurse of the local hospital - Valeria Bruni Tedeshi - who is also a lonely soul. This scheme is an open tribute to BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY; even the dumbest could see it. Second, you have another weirder scheme, tribute this time to GRAVITY and a slice of 2001 SPACE ODYSSEY, and showing an American astronaut arriving from space after the collapse of his rocket ship and finding shelter in a flat of the building, helped by a lonely woman, mother of her convict son. A lonely woman, of course. And the third story shows a former actress - Isabelle Huppert - who has lost all her shining stardom and who befriends a young man living on the same floor. This third scheme is probably a tribute to a movie I don't exactly know, maybe a IsabelleHuppert's film. I would not be surprised. One important thing, those three tales are told with a pretty good editing. You have not here three stories shown one after the other... See what I mean? Go and see it. It's worth watching.

Despite this movie last 1h40, it ends so quickly... I would like to follow this tenderness limbo so much more... I read the books "Chroniques de l'Asphalte", and the style and truthness of simple people is all here in this movie. I think the stories are quite different, so I really hope Samuel does another "sequel", like he did with his books. Hollywood usually bet on extraordinary people, Samuel bet on real ones, simple moments where the true magic of life appear. Too many people, me included, forget what is love, human and share themselves instead of copying others. Suburbs are beautiful, that's the part the director choose to screen, and I can't express my admiration enough! Thanks also to the whole team, the actors who were great for accomplishing such a "normal" and tender movie! Be aware that there is no exaggeration, pretension or stereotypes in it, only some strange events that participate in the magic of life.

The film was recommended on none of the "Best Of" lists for 2015 and I wouldn't have added to my list of what to watch for that year had I not been a fan of Michael Pitt. Thank Heavens he led me to it, though! I sat and smiled at the touchingly comic scenes all the way through and, rare for me, want to watch it again. Why don't more film makers realise that people being gentle and tender towards each other can make for a really charming, enjoyable film? The actors all do the necessary underplaying with great skill and seem to relish the odd situations and dialogue - Pitt explaining the outcome of a TV series by gesture alone is a marvel. Don't miss it!

We are all astronauts - so sounds the German title. The astronauts in our own galaxies. the first galaxy of an astronaut and an elder woman, who is mama by her nature, who believe in each other and support each other

the second galaxy of an actress and a boy who believe in each other and support each other

the third one galaxy and my favourite - galaxy of a lonely man and a lonely nurse who believe in each other and support each other and maybe will find love.

As I started to watch "Asphalte" (~Macadam Stories), I was expecting to watch a good / standard festival style movie. It was in a suburb of a city in France. Usual style, usual narration. Till the striking scene, I thought like that. I don't want to give a spoiler. Then movie changed, so changed. I must say, Asphalte is one of the most creative, brand new style movie. The language of the director, Samuel Benchetrit is so so different and made me so impressed. The composition of the stories in the movie, the characters, the stream of the movie is unbelievable. I never imgained that I would like this movie so much. To see such a creative movies make one pleased, hopeful and excited about the future of making movie. All players / artists are definitely 5 stars. Their successes in their performance are definitely equal. In the end of the movie, you have found yourself as you were saying "Wauv, such movies can be made! Bravo!" Thanks to the whole team for such a great production!