The year and name of the title are purposely generic in this first feature of a planned decalogue from writer-director Laurent Bouhnik ("Zonzon"). Starring Vera Briole as the sweet, shy, single lead whose story is "to be continued" -- so we are promised at the abrupt ending -- "1999 Madeleine" screened in the recent City of Lights, City of Angels minifest of new French films at the Directors Guild of America.
Apart from some slow stretches when the humdrum lives of plain-dressing seamstress Madeleine (Briole) and her elegant but forgetful mother (Anouk Aimee) are stifling, bleak and depressing, Bouhnik's heroine has a number of experiences that keep one engaged. Not quite up to the level of Krzysztof Kieslowski, Bouhnik's main inspiration, "1999 Madeleine", for domestic foreign film fans, is primarily a showcase for the likable Briole in a role without much dialogue.
Taking out personal ads, taking judo lessons, taking all the disappointments of life to heart but not losing her sense of humor and will to succeed, Madeleine eventually throws herself at a married salesman (Manuel Blanc), with an awkward dinner scene that turns into a fight between the man and his wife. Later, Madeleine and he go to a bar, get drunk and go to bed, but the next day he's out the door quickly.
What will happen to Madeleine? "My life is fucked, but I'm not part of it" is one way she puts it. While believable and unromanticized, Bouhnik's vision of modern life in a universal suburban setting has surprising moments and darkly humorous flourishes. Perhaps his future works will have a more profound impact.
The filmmaker intends to continue the decade-long series with a film a year concentrating on one of a group of interrelating characters.
1999 MADELEINE
Playtime/Climax
Screenwriter-director: Laurent Bouhnik
Producers: Etienne Comar, Jean Cottin, Laurent Bouhnik
Director of photography: Gilles Henry
Production designer: Yvon Fustec
Editors: Laurent Bouhnik, Clemence Lafarge
Costume designer: Isa Millet
Music: Jerome Coullet
Color/stereo
Cast:
Madeleine: Vera Briole
Gabriel: Manuel Blanc
Monsieur Paul: Jean-Francois Gallotte
Eve: Anouk Aimee
Mathieu: Jean-Michel Fete
Marie: Aurelia Petit
Jacques: Samuel Jouy
Thomas: Serge Blumenthal
Running time -- 83 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Apart from some slow stretches when the humdrum lives of plain-dressing seamstress Madeleine (Briole) and her elegant but forgetful mother (Anouk Aimee) are stifling, bleak and depressing, Bouhnik's heroine has a number of experiences that keep one engaged. Not quite up to the level of Krzysztof Kieslowski, Bouhnik's main inspiration, "1999 Madeleine", for domestic foreign film fans, is primarily a showcase for the likable Briole in a role without much dialogue.
Taking out personal ads, taking judo lessons, taking all the disappointments of life to heart but not losing her sense of humor and will to succeed, Madeleine eventually throws herself at a married salesman (Manuel Blanc), with an awkward dinner scene that turns into a fight between the man and his wife. Later, Madeleine and he go to a bar, get drunk and go to bed, but the next day he's out the door quickly.
What will happen to Madeleine? "My life is fucked, but I'm not part of it" is one way she puts it. While believable and unromanticized, Bouhnik's vision of modern life in a universal suburban setting has surprising moments and darkly humorous flourishes. Perhaps his future works will have a more profound impact.
The filmmaker intends to continue the decade-long series with a film a year concentrating on one of a group of interrelating characters.
1999 MADELEINE
Playtime/Climax
Screenwriter-director: Laurent Bouhnik
Producers: Etienne Comar, Jean Cottin, Laurent Bouhnik
Director of photography: Gilles Henry
Production designer: Yvon Fustec
Editors: Laurent Bouhnik, Clemence Lafarge
Costume designer: Isa Millet
Music: Jerome Coullet
Color/stereo
Cast:
Madeleine: Vera Briole
Gabriel: Manuel Blanc
Monsieur Paul: Jean-Francois Gallotte
Eve: Anouk Aimee
Mathieu: Jean-Michel Fete
Marie: Aurelia Petit
Jacques: Samuel Jouy
Thomas: Serge Blumenthal
Running time -- 83 minutes
No MPAA rating...
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