I really wish this film came with a little disclaimer at the beginning that begged viewers to stick with the film and not turn it off after the first 20 or so minutes. That's because although FEUX ROUGES starts off slow and the characters seem unlikable, the film builds and builds to a wonderful crescendo--making this a film well worth seeking.
A middle-aged couple (Jean-Pierre Darroussin and Carole Bouquet) are preparing to drive from Paris to the countryside to pick up their two children at summer camp. During this portion of the film, the viewer will probably notice several things--the couple lacks warmth in their relationship, they are hard to get to know for the audience and perhaps the husband has a drinking problem. Once the trip begins, the couple snipes at each other almost constantly and it's a chore to watch them. It all gets worse when several times the husband stops the car at bars "to go to the bathroom"--and he takes a couple drinks instead. By this time, the man's driving is impaired and the wife has had enough. She tells him if he goes into one more bar that she'll take the car and continue without him--so he goes into the bar with the car keys. Well, once he returns, he finds the car empty and a note saying she's taken the train. He responds by quickly driving to the next two stops to try to catch the train but it's all in vain.
Now, at this point, the film starts to get interesting. As a type of male protest, Darroussin goes back into a bar and drinks very heavily. He tries to strike up a conversation with a huge and rather scary looking guy. He even offers to buy the guy a drink but the man just wanders off and Darroussin looks to tell someone about his emancipation from a controlling wife. As he leaves the bar, however, he is approached by the same man--who now asks for a ride. Foolishly, the husband agrees---and the film switches into high gear as the man goes for the ride of his life.
There's a lot that happens from this point on and in some ways the film seems a bit like the very chilling Dutch film, THE VANISHING ("SPOORLOOS") or a Hitchcock film. But because I don't want to spoil it, I'll say little about this. What I loved, however, about all this is that the drinking has an interesting psychological aspect, as Darroussin seems to drink to make up for his own masculine inadequacies. Through the terror that ensues, he is able in a sick way to claim back his manhood as well as get to the heart of his drinking. The only negative I have at all about the last part of the film is that there is a very, very ironic occurrence--so tough to believe and coincidental some might be a bit turned off by it. But, really, it's only a minor quibble.
Overall, a taut thriller and psychological portrait. The film is Darroussin as he is the main focus and manages to carry it very well with his characterization of a very flawed though seemingly ordinary man. I love how French films often have actors who are so ordinary looking--such as Daniel Auteiul, Michel Piccoli, Jean Rochefort and Gérard Depardieu--guys who are simply exceptional actors. Had this been made in Hollywood, instead Darroussin and Bouquet, it probably would have starred Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie or Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts-- quelle dommage!
A middle-aged couple (Jean-Pierre Darroussin and Carole Bouquet) are preparing to drive from Paris to the countryside to pick up their two children at summer camp. During this portion of the film, the viewer will probably notice several things--the couple lacks warmth in their relationship, they are hard to get to know for the audience and perhaps the husband has a drinking problem. Once the trip begins, the couple snipes at each other almost constantly and it's a chore to watch them. It all gets worse when several times the husband stops the car at bars "to go to the bathroom"--and he takes a couple drinks instead. By this time, the man's driving is impaired and the wife has had enough. She tells him if he goes into one more bar that she'll take the car and continue without him--so he goes into the bar with the car keys. Well, once he returns, he finds the car empty and a note saying she's taken the train. He responds by quickly driving to the next two stops to try to catch the train but it's all in vain.
Now, at this point, the film starts to get interesting. As a type of male protest, Darroussin goes back into a bar and drinks very heavily. He tries to strike up a conversation with a huge and rather scary looking guy. He even offers to buy the guy a drink but the man just wanders off and Darroussin looks to tell someone about his emancipation from a controlling wife. As he leaves the bar, however, he is approached by the same man--who now asks for a ride. Foolishly, the husband agrees---and the film switches into high gear as the man goes for the ride of his life.
There's a lot that happens from this point on and in some ways the film seems a bit like the very chilling Dutch film, THE VANISHING ("SPOORLOOS") or a Hitchcock film. But because I don't want to spoil it, I'll say little about this. What I loved, however, about all this is that the drinking has an interesting psychological aspect, as Darroussin seems to drink to make up for his own masculine inadequacies. Through the terror that ensues, he is able in a sick way to claim back his manhood as well as get to the heart of his drinking. The only negative I have at all about the last part of the film is that there is a very, very ironic occurrence--so tough to believe and coincidental some might be a bit turned off by it. But, really, it's only a minor quibble.
Overall, a taut thriller and psychological portrait. The film is Darroussin as he is the main focus and manages to carry it very well with his characterization of a very flawed though seemingly ordinary man. I love how French films often have actors who are so ordinary looking--such as Daniel Auteiul, Michel Piccoli, Jean Rochefort and Gérard Depardieu--guys who are simply exceptional actors. Had this been made in Hollywood, instead Darroussin and Bouquet, it probably would have starred Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie or Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts-- quelle dommage!