I was intrigued, entranced and beguiled by this movie from the start, but 45 minutes in, it pretty much gives up. Claude is a teenage student who excels in maths, because of this he manages to inveigle himself into the home of Rapha a fellow student who is struggling with the subject. On the pretence of assisting with his homework he gets 'In the house' which he has been watching from a nearby park for a while. Claude's story of his time with Rapha and his parents is told to us via the essays he writes for his language teacher Germain. Germain laps up these tales and shares them clandestinely with his wife Jeanne (Kristin Scott Thomas, adding to her list of French movie roles). So much so he actively encourages the boy to carry on the deceit.
The story from in the house involves, possible infidelity, male bonding, voyeurism, the vilification of the middle classes, ill health, rejection and acceptance. And yet with all this going on I felt we were not being taken on a cinematic journey, it was more akin to slowly walking on a filmic hamster wheel.
After the great set up, where the characters are skilfully introduced, the performances are solid as is the direction and dialogue. But the writer and director don't know what to do after the set up and the film meanders somewhat tediously to a clumsy and over long conclusion. A shame really. I'm not sure The Buscatcher can recommend a journey to the flicks for this one.
The story from in the house involves, possible infidelity, male bonding, voyeurism, the vilification of the middle classes, ill health, rejection and acceptance. And yet with all this going on I felt we were not being taken on a cinematic journey, it was more akin to slowly walking on a filmic hamster wheel.
After the great set up, where the characters are skilfully introduced, the performances are solid as is the direction and dialogue. But the writer and director don't know what to do after the set up and the film meanders somewhat tediously to a clumsy and over long conclusion. A shame really. I'm not sure The Buscatcher can recommend a journey to the flicks for this one.