Audience Member
I'm told this one is loaded with symbolism and political referents. Anyway, psychopathic killer is released to murder an insane girl who's become an heiress. They hit it off after awhile and he winds up killing all her greedy family who wanted her dead. I watched it and immediately watched it again. I found it interesting and peppered with surprises.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/16/23
Full Review
Audience Member
[size=3][color=#000000][font=Times New Roman]A serial killer, who is on a mission apparently from God to kill an innocent (and also crazy) woman, is released from an insane asylum by a man hired by the womans father to kill her so that he may claim her inheritance. Does that sound confusing? Dont worry because in the French film, [u]That Day,[/u] the plot is fed to the viewer slowly. It may be confusing at first; however the film does end with the many truly twisted facets coming together. Such may be the norm in an absurdist film. Directed and written by prolific Raoul Ruiz, [u]That Day[/u] was shown at San Franciscos 47th Annual Film Festival. [/font][/color][/size]
[size=3][color=#000000][font=Times New Roman]The main character, a crazy woman named Lydia played by Elsa [color=black][font=Times New Roman][b]Zylberstein[/b][/font][/color], teases the viewer with suspense. She repeatedly states that tomorrow will be the best day of her life, while playfully drifting through the introductory scenes. The police chief and one of his officers, who are warned that something fishy is going on at the house Lydia lives in, decide to pretend to do nothing while actually doing nothing. Nothing, in this case, includes spending time at a café all day drinking coffee, reading the paper, eating, and talking. All of this is despite the messengers sent to tell them of the matter at hand. [/font][/color][/size]
[size=3][color=#000000][font=Times New Roman]Each branch of the story brings out curiosity, a feeling I nurtured until after the movie was over, still questioning the underlying meaning of all the corruption involved in the family. The corruption of the family could have something to do with politics since, according to [color=black][font=Times New Roman][b]Zylberstein[/b][/font][/color], screenwriter Ruiz was interested in incorporating that theme. The father has someone let loose the insane serial killer Pointpoirot, played by Bernard Giraudeu, to kill his crazy daughter for the money she inherited from her late mother, is followed in several scenes. Wondering what has happened with his daughter, he sends members of his family to the house to see if the deed is done. After each messenger mysteriously does not pick up their cell phone when he calls, he is inevitably forced to check up on her himself. [/font][/color][/size]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3][color=#000000]Never before have I laughed so much at violence. I mean, I was laughing out loud uncontrollably. Although there might not be quite the mountains of bodies seen murdered in [u]Kill Bill[/u], I would not hesitate to say that if you hear the name of a character, there is a about a fifty percent chance they will die. Im not sure what else one would expect from a movie with an institutionalized serial killer named Pointpoirot, who thinks he needs to check his blood sugar constantly
and does, even if it means taking a break from chasing down his next victim. Despite his violent nature, Pointpoirot is a character I loved from his first appearance where he stares at the pretty Lydia.[/color][/size][/font]
[size=3][color=#000000][font=Times New Roman]Lydia fell for him too, although what does she know; she killed a family member and stuck an axe into Pointpoirot in some kind of wild self defense. One lesson immediately learned here is, dont threaten a crazy person. The times it occurs in this film do not end well for the other person. For the insane, it seems to be as easy and carefree a job to kill as watering flowers. They show little remorse. Sweet as honey, Lydia is completely innocent despite possibly murdering a man. She may even know much more than people give her credit for. She just sees certain things, and sees them plainly, passing little judgment on anyone. [/font][/color][/size]
[size=3][color=#000000][font=Times New Roman]Thats what makes the movie so amazing, Lydias outlook on things. It is so clever and sweet. She makes little airy sounds at the top of her voice and skips and is so friendly. The movie takes on this simple mood that makes it so easy to laugh and feel at ease. The camera moves beautifully with her and shows the most innocent glances at everything so much so that you feel as though you are inadvertently playing along. Still scenes are shocking, the world full of contrasts. The camera plays tricks I have never seen before that will make the viewer feel as though they are too in this increasingly curious and startling situation. It may not be just the camera, for the characters faces are filled with amazement in a way that feels incredibly personal. [/font][/color][/size]
[size=3][color=#000000][font=Times New Roman]There is no push for dramatization, and everything is set up so perfectly that it seems a pretty puzzle to piece together. Each piece enveloped with humor quiet yet not always subtle. [/font][/color][/size]
[size=3][color=#000000][font=Times New Roman]One of the most interesting and pleasing movies Ive seen all year, I would recommend this to anyone looking for something different. [/font][/color][/size]
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
02/11/23
Full Review
walter m
[font=Century Gothic]"That Day" takes place in Switzerland in the near future. Livia(Elsa Zylberstein) has been told by a flock of prognosticators to expect wonderful things on the following day. But fate has other things in store for her. A homicidal maniac, Emil Pointpoirot(Bernard Giraudeau), has been unofficially released from an asylum and has been directed to where Livia, all alone for the day, lives.[/font]
[font=Century Gothic][/font]
[font=Century Gothic]Written and directed by Raoul Ruiz, "That Day" is a gleefully deranged black comedy about of all things the treatment and exploitation of the mentally ill. A person's sanity is not a true indication of how dangerous they may be. And it is true that Pointpoirot is a menace to everyone around him but somebody did let him loose on society...[/font]
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
A wonderfully strange film filled with incredibly interesting characters. The most brilliant darkly comic film I've ever seen. The humour is so clever and subtle in some ways and so wild and crazy in others, always off-kilter.
Some very beautiful and interesting shots.
The most fascinating scenes had to be between the seemingly crazy leads. Their beliefs and way of expressing themselves was very absorbing.
The cops were incredibly amusing to watch as well, I give them props for successfully pulling off understated yet comedic performances.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
01/28/23
Full Review
Audience Member
A darkly comic symphony of poetic justice. Elsa Zylberstein is a living, breathing work of art in this bizarre treasure from director Raoul Ruiz.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/10/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Enjoyable but rather minor film from the prolific Raoul Ruiz. It runs a little long and, on repeat viewings, is thin on ideas compared to his best work. Nonetheless, much of it is rather funny and conveys a marvelous macabre tone. It probably would have been better if Ruiz devoted more time to exploring the political satire that drifts along the edges of the film.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/26/23
Full Review
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