'Ultranova' is a movie that leaves open some space for discussion. Not only the 'lack' of a story, as some say, but the main theme is an interesting one.
When I first saw the movie I couldn't help thinking directly of another movie from Wallonie, 'C'est arrivé pres de chez vous', which has an obviously different subject, but can function as some stuff to compare with nonetheless. The dejecting image that is being given in the movie of the region is comparable. The inhabitants seem doomed to end their lives unhappy and surrounded by a landscape that never gives one a warm feeling. Every character has her or his story, a trauma, and every character seems, in some way, silly. But when evaluating or watching beyond the first layer of the movie, it seems pretty clear that the main theme is how to cope with loneliness and deep grieve. No one in the movie has someone who really cares for someone, but everyone is looking for affection. Dimitri, the main character, who, I must note here, is perfectly acted by Lecuyer, tries to find love with Cathy, but she just seems interested in solving her own problems. Finding the path, and not slipping away from the road, trying to find the way in a world that seems cold and incomprehensible, is hard - so it seems. The lack of hope (and not the lack of story!) is perhaps for some people that watch the movie terrifying. But then they should ask themselves, doesn't 'Ultranova' give some hopes for a 'supernew' beginning, with some pain the lifeline can be changed... whether that choice is good or bad, no one knows. But we must go on.
So the movie is inspiring, more than it is dejecting, in my opinion. Great movie.
When I first saw the movie I couldn't help thinking directly of another movie from Wallonie, 'C'est arrivé pres de chez vous', which has an obviously different subject, but can function as some stuff to compare with nonetheless. The dejecting image that is being given in the movie of the region is comparable. The inhabitants seem doomed to end their lives unhappy and surrounded by a landscape that never gives one a warm feeling. Every character has her or his story, a trauma, and every character seems, in some way, silly. But when evaluating or watching beyond the first layer of the movie, it seems pretty clear that the main theme is how to cope with loneliness and deep grieve. No one in the movie has someone who really cares for someone, but everyone is looking for affection. Dimitri, the main character, who, I must note here, is perfectly acted by Lecuyer, tries to find love with Cathy, but she just seems interested in solving her own problems. Finding the path, and not slipping away from the road, trying to find the way in a world that seems cold and incomprehensible, is hard - so it seems. The lack of hope (and not the lack of story!) is perhaps for some people that watch the movie terrifying. But then they should ask themselves, doesn't 'Ultranova' give some hopes for a 'supernew' beginning, with some pain the lifeline can be changed... whether that choice is good or bad, no one knows. But we must go on.
So the movie is inspiring, more than it is dejecting, in my opinion. Great movie.