My first review here and felt compelled to add it after watching this movie.
On the surface this is a charming faux-travel movie where the titular character drives through a series of whimsical scenes with recurring characters reminiscent of the famous Monsieur Hulot. On one level this is dangerously close to a French travel advert. What lifts it however is a number of elements - not the least being Ciaran Hinds' presence, Stephen Dillane's mournful turn, and other vital cameos. The key however is the soulful picture of a woman Hinds places on the passenger seat of his Fiat 500 and also the desperately un-desperate pursuit of a motley crew in their Citroën Dyane. Hinds witnesses these characters pulling up and depositing what appears to be a corpse into the waters so in alarm flees from them. This flight is the core of the movie but it is a flight redolent with picnics, charming interludes, picturesque landscapes and inevitably a meeting with destiny.
It is a destiny only revealed at the end and which broke me.
The look on Hinds face in the final shot tells all and reveals the true weft of the movie: it is a serenade to his passing over and putting behind of his life. What was put into that water is all too obvious now and all the whimsy and beauty and loves he witnesses are to help him make peace and move on over that final river we must all cross over.
Am I reading too much into this movie? Possibly. Probably. But something in his face at the end and the fact the passport which is stamped bears no national markings makes me think not.
On the surface this is a charming faux-travel movie where the titular character drives through a series of whimsical scenes with recurring characters reminiscent of the famous Monsieur Hulot. On one level this is dangerously close to a French travel advert. What lifts it however is a number of elements - not the least being Ciaran Hinds' presence, Stephen Dillane's mournful turn, and other vital cameos. The key however is the soulful picture of a woman Hinds places on the passenger seat of his Fiat 500 and also the desperately un-desperate pursuit of a motley crew in their Citroën Dyane. Hinds witnesses these characters pulling up and depositing what appears to be a corpse into the waters so in alarm flees from them. This flight is the core of the movie but it is a flight redolent with picnics, charming interludes, picturesque landscapes and inevitably a meeting with destiny.
It is a destiny only revealed at the end and which broke me.
The look on Hinds face in the final shot tells all and reveals the true weft of the movie: it is a serenade to his passing over and putting behind of his life. What was put into that water is all too obvious now and all the whimsy and beauty and loves he witnesses are to help him make peace and move on over that final river we must all cross over.
Am I reading too much into this movie? Possibly. Probably. But something in his face at the end and the fact the passport which is stamped bears no national markings makes me think not.