the final night for this year's french film festival
saving the best until last - maybe - full house though
surprising but freebies i reckon - saw evidence of that
omar sy the big drawcard for me - he of the intouchables
currently travelling as most fave of films - he starring as driss
all round good guy - reviews indicating a similar role here
it starts out with the frivolity at an elaborate paris wedding
panning back to the busy kitchen and our man doing dishes
his uncle one of the team of chefs at this up-market hotel
then we see samba in a queue of immigrants at a port
presumably back in time but that lost in translation
next in an interview room with the main leading lady
alice (charlotte gainsbourg) is doing some charity work
she there to look and learn as the expert lady does her thing
routinely questioning samba about work/accommodation plans
alice and samba left alone briefly - he teases, she blushes, we smile
despite advice from her compatriot alice gives her phone number
kind of obvious where this is headed but it could be a fun ride
scenes then of the tough life for immigrants in a thriving city
exploited labour basically and officials turning a blind eye
samba seen taking on various temporary labouring jobs
he also delivers on a promise to a mate still in detention
tracks down his fiance to pass on a message - but more
a guilty conscience for him and a clear bookmark for us
samba fails in his bid for permanent residency but stays on
ignoring his 'otlft' status - obligation to leave french territory
this seems quite common also - under-the-radar now needed
comedy kicks in as he turns to high-rise window-washing
he afraid of heights - his co-washer wooing the office ladies
the 2 lads then seen partying with the immigration dept (huh?)
and of course the 2 ladies from earlier in the film re-introduced
there's dancing, drinking games and a kind of truth-or-dare
the 4 of them buddy up - the 2 young-uns straight into it
but alice and samba - theirs is a more subdued relationship
he (omar sy) is a real good-looking, charming and decent chap
she lacking in confidence but 'she feels good when he is around'
and with that a very obvious comparison to his role in intouchables
the (black) grounded worker and the (white) discontented bourgeoisie
but here - just too over-played - too much going on - too - unsure
the directors throw everything at it - each scene offering a study
love, drama, comedy, dance, politics, sex, racism, infidelity, etc
and the climax - mystery - samba's friend catches up with him
they walk - samba cold - jonas swaps jacket for coat - bookmark
jonas is angry over the bedding of his fiance - a fight breaks out
drawing the attention of the police - uh-oh - they pursue them
and both end up in the seine - but neither can swim - the end?
nope - sadness as samba's death is announced - alice distraught
and then he walks in the door - ah - the id's swapped with jackets
alice convinces him to keep the new id - he can stay in france
ah - noice - a happy ending - the large audience is relieved
me - not so - not the memorable film i was anticipating
just too much going on and with that all quite cursory
nothing fleshed out - a definite case of more is less
still - omar sy - pretty well rescued samba the film
a real good character study will do him good
end of the french film festival - tres bon....
