FFF MOVIE REVIEW: MY KING (MON ROI)

31/2/5

Tony is recovering from a leg trauma in a rehabilitation centre on the border of the sea. But the real trauma is in her soul. Reflecting on what brought her to this point in life she is remembering the affair with handsome and unpredictable Georgio, and their turbulent relationship over the last ten years. It brought her happiness but also a lot of pain. How soon will she be back on her feet again? Will she ever?

If you like dramatic love stories you may instantly recognise the premise of the film, it had been used hundreds of times. A heroine walking down the memory lane to figure out what had gone wrong. There’s one thing, however, that makes MY KING stand out – it is a very honest film with a very real, raw feel to every scene, performance and dialogue. Intelligent but plain looking Tony seems like an odd match to charismatic and larger than life Georgio, however the sparks that are flying on screen cannot be ignored. Their affair and their relationship are believable, and over the course of the film you will learn them as intimately as if they were your close friends.

There are a lot of jokes, but also a lot of sadness. The film's episodic structure may be a turn off for many, but the director is always in control, fixing things up as soon as the narrative begins to stumble a little.

Instead of focusing on the fantastic performances from Vincent Cassel and Emmanuelle Bercot, I want to say a few words about Louis Garrel. He is only in a supporting role of Tony’s younger brother, however his presence adds realism to the story and a much needed comic relief. He is one of those actors who make anything he is in a little better.

MY KING gives us a very unusual relationship but highlights the problems everyone can identify with. Without preaching or judgment, this is an honest portrait of a marriage and love and everything else that comes with it.