Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Ne Te Retourne Pas (Don’t Look Back)


My first thought when I learned that the leads were two actresses that I really enjoy in the screen, Sophie Marceau and Monica Bellucci, I wondered how the movie and story was going to be with such good looking women together. Never in my dreams could I imagine seeing Sophie and Monica as ONE. Bizarre. You'll see the strangest transformation that allows close-ups to a face that is half Sophie and half Monica. But have to admit that the special effects are great; is what you see while they are one what is not pleasant to watch at all.

Had a vague idea of the movie story but you know that I don’t like to read before watching a movie to not spoil it and freely allow surprises. The story starts fine and grabs your attention. You feel the tension. Soon enough you ask, what’s happening? Is a visual representation of madness? No. Then what? While you have many questions in your head and no answers, something weird happens: you lose interest and you do not really care about the answers. Shame!

Still when the transformation happens is interesting visually (even when looks bizarre), but you lost all interest in the story that starts in France with full Sophie, goes to a very slow transformation, moves to Italy with full Monica, more strange visual transformation and ends in France with full Sophie.

So what’s the story all about? Reconciliation of your present with your past. Obviously the story is told in the most unusual way. So unusual that is not interesting at all and the transformation gimmicks totally distract viewers from the storytelling.

In my opinion director and co writer Marina de Van took a huge risk and this time it didn’t pay off. Maybe if she used less narrative distracting special effects the film would have been a lot more interesting to watch.

I cannot recommend this film but if you wish to see with your own eyes how Sophie Marceau transforms into Monica Bellucci then this film is must be seen for you.

Sigh.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

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