Wednesday, May 07, 2008

N'Oublie Pas Que Tu Vas Mourir (Don’t Forget You’re Going To Die)


This Xavier Beauvois oeuvre (he acts, directs and co writes the script) is strange to say the least, but the story has a certain “je ne sais quoi” that keeps you watching until the very predictable end. The end is predictable because the minute he learns that he’s HIV positive you see his reaction and you know that he will go into a down spiral and that’s exactly what he does with a brief interlude in Rome.

The movie mixes techniques with the first part feeling and looking like a regular movie concerning framing, pace, etc. As soon as he gets into drugs the movie changes to a raw realism and the technique changes too (darker, great framing, slow pace, etc); then you have the Rome interlude where everything changes again with great outdoor and indoor cinematography, faster –yet still slow- pace and some excellent framing especially the scene with nude Chiara Mastroianni in bed that is just beautiful. The surreal end that in my opinion is played like a big joke on him and on us viewers, the technique changes again to fake war mood with real killing and goes into slow motion. I believe that all the flawless changes of this movie makes it a very interesting and an outstanding film.

Not for all audiences as is not only very French and art cinema, but also is very raw when the movie deals with drugs. The movie won the Jury Prize at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival and was in competition for the Golden Palm, has other awards in European fests.

Not an easy movie to watch but if you like French art cinema and haven’t seen this one yet, I suggest you give it a try.

Enjoy!

No comments yet