FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW: CUSTODY (JUSQU'A LA GARDE)

8/10
Antoine and Miriam have been divorced for a while but are still locked in a custody battle for the young son Julian. When a judge grants the shared custody rights to the father the conflict escalates to the point of no return…

CUSTODY is an intense modern drama that cuts to the bone. How ugly and terrifying a divorce could be? Slowly sliding into the territory of a thriller it is hard to take sides until one of the spouses totally loses control.

This is only a second film from Xavie Legrand. Reminiscent of this year’s Oscar nominated film LOVELESS, the film does few favours to either parent, describing the divorce in all its ugliness, and only closer to the end does it take sides as the villain emerges. There’s no surprise who of the spouses comes out as the evil one, but the final fifteen minutes are spine tingling. Adding to the tension is the absolute realism of what is shown onscreen. Denis Menochet and Lea Drucker are both terrific. For most of the film they don’t say much, the camera focuses on their faces, their eyes, and we get all we need to know without a word spoken.

CUSTODY is not an easy film to take in, but it definitely is engaging and once you are hooked it won’t let go. The soundtrack is minimalistic, the exterior shots are gloomy and the atmosphere of quiet dread slowly building towards a very realising and devastating climax.

CUSTODY is not a movie for everyone but it is a great example of what modern independent cinema is about.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Door Lock (Korean Movie Review)

Image
8/10 The life of Kyung-min is a work-home-sleep routine and rarely varies. But out of nowhere unsettling incidents start creeping in. The door handle to her apartment turns in the middle of the night as if someone is trying to enter, repeatedly dialling the passcode of her door lock. Is it possible that someone enters her apartment when she is out at work or worse, when she is fast asleep? And how all this connected to the disappearance of a girl next door? Kyung-min will not rest until she finds out, even if it may cost her her life. DOOR LOCK is loosely based on a Spanish movie SLEEP TIGHT which was rather a drama than a thriller. By changing the setting to a cold faceless suburb of Seoul the movie takes us into the heart of an urban nightmare where it’s easy to disappear and no-one will come looking for you. Kyung-min is an unlikable protagonist who is suffering from multiple phobias and is even ready to break certain rules to flirt with her clients, but she develops strength
Read more

IFF MOVIE REVIEW; PARTLY CLOUDY WITH SUNNY SPELLS (TEMPO INSTABILE COM PROBABILI SCHIARITE)

Image
2 1/5 /5 Ermanno and Giacomo are two friends and partners in a small furniture business. As their finances are running dry threatening the closure of the factory an incredible thing occurs - they discover the the oil on their backyard. To put the oil on a production rails requires a significant investment of money and effort, and the two old friends go head to head when their opinions on what to do with the grand discovery differ. What will win, the honest stubbornness or practicality? There are films that are not intended for an international market and PARTLY CLOUDY is one of those films. Oriented mainly for the family viewing it includes animation sequences that are too unoriginal to attract younger viewers while the two middle aged men arguing over the oil does not make an intensive enough experience for an older audience either. Even the charisma of the ever popular  Luca Zingsretti in the role of Giacomo is somehow inefficient in this well written, but weakly sho
Read more

We'll End Up Together - Nous Finirons Ensemble (French Movie Review)

Image
10/10 Max has a sixtieth birthday coming up. The problem is he is broke, divorced and depressed. When a group of his best friends show up at his doorstep to help him celebrate, he reluctantly agrees to spend a few days with them, but won’t explain what’s going on in his personal life. When ones darkest moments come, will friendship conquer all? Seven years after the breakout success of the film Little White Lies (Les Petits Mouchoirs) comes the long anticipated sequel and it is worth the wait. The success of WE’LL END UP TOGETHER is not in its rather predictable plot, but the chemistry on screen, the characters that we recognise ourselves and our friends in, and the amazing warm atmosphere that makes one believe there’s no problem a good dinner with friends won’t sort out.  Written and directed by much loved French actor and director  Guillaume Canet this movie feels like a welcome return home to those who have seen the original and will also welcome new viewership - the film c
Read more