Mario S
One depressing scene after another for what seemed like an endless two hours and change. Not a single character in the film had at least one redeeming quality.
Rated 1/5 Stars •
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
04/09/23
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Natalia R
France is a great movie. Léa Seydoux est magnifique.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
03/11/23
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Audience Member
one of the slowest worst movies Ive ever seen. if I could give it a zero, I would,,, 2.5 hours long? I quit watching 45 minutes in. Dont waste your time.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
02/19/23
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Audience Member
This movie is a total failure. The satire fails completely, the whole is a cringe-festival and way too pathetic, the only thing that was alright was Léa Seydoux.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
01/21/23
Full Review
brent m
If ever there were a film that embodies the notion of "Life sucks and then you die," this would be it. Writer-director Bruno Dumont's latest, a depressing cynical comedy-drama, takes the concept of weltschmerz to an entirely new level. That includes not only the content of the film's narrative, but also the agony that's inflicted upon audiences viewing this tediously slow, meandering, unfocused slog. Told from the perspective of an immensely popular French TV journalist who has everything that everyone supposedly wants -- fame, fortune, wealth, beauty -- the film follows her triumphs and tragedies, all of which leave her feeling eminently empty and depressed. Some of it is personal, some professional, and nearly always in matters of integrity, meaning and fulfillment, conditions that leave life affording us precious few joys. In some ways, the film could also be seen as a metaphor for the current state of society, most notably that of France (the nation) as reflected through France de Meurs (the protagonist). The foregoing may be all well and good in theory, but it's sorely lacking where the execution of this production is concerned. Dumont truly seems to be striving for something here, but it ends up feeling more like "reaching" in the end. This overlong, often-vague, frequently repetitive, generally lost cinematic exercise truly is one well worth skipping.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
matthew d
A poignant slow burn like nothing I've seen before.
Director Bruno Dumont's French arthouse comedy-drama France (2021) is a curious piece of contemporary French cinema. At first, I was bored and confused by Dumont's very French humor and political discourse, then I was thoroughly entertained and charmed by Léa Seydoux, and by the end I was in tears. I'm positive that I will still be thinking about France decades from now. France takes modern media empires and demagogues to task with a fiery passion and cool aesthetic, tempered by a visionary director with a unique style. France will alienate casual viewers, but reward the patient with an intriguing and original French art film.
Dumont's direction throws you right into the fray starting right out with a press conference with France's actual President Emmanuel Macron camping with a full speech! Dumont lulls you into thinking his strange satire is merely funny or awkward with these long held shots. Nicolas Bier's editing definitely could have cut France from 133 minutes as it is certainly a slowly paced picture. Bier's cuts have this dreamy quality that's captivating in its own right.
However, I found France so engrossing, pleasant, and touching that time disappeared and I was just fascinated by every moment of France. Then, Dumont allows you to relax and experience his heroine's feelings in earnest as she feels a paradigm shift in her shallow life. France is an authentic emotional masterpiece in the midst of cringe comedy satirizing modern media influencers and journalists all in it for fame and glory.
Léa Seydoux is transcendent in France with one of her greatest lead actress roles of her illustrious acting career as shallow news journalist France de Meurs. She's impossibly gorgeous every second on screen and captivates you with her always sorrowful eyes and hurt tears. You increasingly get a feeling for France's inner unhappiness and deep depression over her vapid career, unloving husband, spoiled son, and conflicted morals. Seydoux makes funny faces, does a cute dance, sings a lovely song, and cries with her entire soul throughout France. Seydoux gives France every ounce of emotion as she carries and elevates Bruno Dumont's curious French film to the stars. Seydoux is gripping and proves why she is France's finest actress of her generation.
Blanche Gardin is pretty funny as the vaping news producer with no filter or taste named Lou. Benjamin Biolay is fun in how precisely he's playing France's detached, egomaniac, author husband Fred de Meurs. Emanuele Arioli is handsome, intriguing, and charming as Charles Castro. He plays a complex and subtle character and love interest for France. Juliane Köhler is funny as the babbling German celebrity watcher at the resort named Mademoiselle Arpel. Jawad Zemmar's unfortunate victim Baptiste is likable and very earnest in France. Marc Bettinelli plays Lolo with a fun ease as France's steadfast cameraman for her war segments as he's always getting ready for the right shot.
Bruno Dumont's writing thrusts you into his world view of contrived media narratives, staged journalist interviews, insincere reporting, self-gratulatory charity, hypocritical viewpoints, detriments of fame, celebrity worship, and depression. I found his jokes and satirical commentary very clever and thoughtful as he allows his heroine to learn and make mistakes with a reflective tone to France. Dumont's writing can feel pretentious, but he's clearly intelligent and profound in his own right as his emotional parable condemns his heroine France to a life of polarizing feelings of confused dejection and content momentary happiness. The jokes are not hilarious at first, but grow in humor with each repetition of the absurdity of France's scenarios from her staged war zone reporting to France hitting a young on his scooter while she's going only like 5 miles an hour.
France is a phenomenally well crafted picture and may be the best looking film I have ever seen. David Chambille's cinematography is gorgeous with these meticulously framed close-ups and medium shots of Seydoux that are inspired. His wide shots use every trick and perspective from drone cameras for ultra wide landscape coverage to bird's eye view handheld camerawork. I could not tell if this was a $20 million indie drama or a $1 billion sweeping blockbuster at times. The war zone sequences hilariously look amateur, meanwhile France later features one of the most shocking car crashes in cinema history that looked like it was straight out of Doctor Strange. International producers Rachid Bouchareb, Jean Bréhat, and Muriel Merlin must have shelled out a lot of dough for France.
I must mention that costume designer Alexandra Charles' gorgeous dresses and suits for Léa Seydoux. France might actually have around 50 costume changes for Seydoux and every pink suit, soft sweater, and ornate dress is chic and beautiful. Seydoux is stunning in anything. France has flawless make-up for Seydoux as well with this lovely pale face and red lipped look for her.
Erwan Le Gal's art direction captures the sleek modern media room aesthetic as well as refined wealthy homes that all look like mansions or chateaus. The focus on Seydoux' face is intriguing among all the luxury of France's cold, expensive home. Set decorators Pierre Renaux and Pauline Stern's antique and new furniture and props look both classical and contemporary with pop art paintings next to Renaissance paintings. Visually, France is all excess to drive home how shallow and wasteful these people are with their vast wealth until France starts donating to a good cause.
Composer Christophe wrote, sang, and played an enthralling score for France. The pulsing synths sound so fresh, while Christophe's quiet French singing is pretty. His haunting synth lines and stunning symphonic compositions elevate France into a real art piece. May Christophe rest in peace as he died from COVID-19 shortly after composing France's ethereal score. France has one of the best scores I've ever heard. I particularly love Christophe's final classical style song in France's last scene. Sound designers Gert Janssen, Romain Ozanne, and Philippe Lecoeur play around with artillery mortar round blasts to car wreck noises throughout France.
In conclusion, France may be one of the finest directed, most frustrating, and incredibly moving films I have ever had the pleasure of watching. It's true art that makes you think and feel all while you're confused as Bruno Dumont's message becomes clearer through the folds of quirky humor and thoughtful commentary on the staged media and celebrity culture.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
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