Comme Un Avion - directed by Bruno Podalydes
Starring: Bruno Podalydes, Sandrine Kiberlain, Agnes Jaoui, Vimala Pons, Denis Podalydes, Michel Vuillermoz, Jean-Noel Broute, Pierre Arditi
Screenplay: Bruno Podalydes
Music Score by: N/A
Cinematography: Claire Mathon
Edited by: Christel Dewynter
Running Time: 104 minutes
Rated: N/A - Two brief nude scenes, some mild profanity, suggested sex - about an M rating
Kicking off this year's French Film Festival is writer / director / lead actor Bruno Podalydes' "Comme un Avion" or to give it the official English language title "The Sweet Escape".
As is often the case with foreign film festivals I didn't know anything about this film.
In this case only that it was about a man who buys a kayak and gets away from it all for a while.
I did also read that it was a light comedic film as opposed to the heavy drama that I initially suspected it could be.
As the film begins light and comedic are fitting descriptions.
Michel (Bruno Podalydes) is a graphics designer given to daydreaming about flying a mail aeroplane.
His boss Remi (Denis Podalydes - Bruno's real life younger brother) introduces the concept of the palindrome to his team and in searching for examples Michel becomes taken with kayaks.
He buys one and assembles the frame only, pretending to paddle in secret on quiet rooftops.
Finally revealing his new passion to his wife Rachelle she accompanies him to a peaceful river so that he can begin a peaceful, solo journey downstream.
He makes a toilet stop and discovers an unusual commune of sorts populated by Laetitia - the owner of a country house (a phenomenal Agnes Jaoui) - and a ragtag group of outdoor residents including Mila (Vimala Pons)
He stays for a while and seems fascinated with the melancholy Mila who we find out later cries every time it rains because it reminds her of her lost love.
Michel finally leaves but a series of ill advised hits from a thermos of absinthe scuttles the journey and he finds himself back at the house.
The tone up until now has been light and quite humorous but when Michel suddenly makes a move on Laetitia leading to the consummation of the relationship I started to wonder what the script had in store for us.
Michel had previously rejected the blatantly sexual advances of a neighbour in a well staged elevator scene and was rather indifferent to the presence of an attractive co-worker in the office.
Now, suddenly out of his familiar surroundings and free and alone he acts on his desires.
That light and fluffy tone still remains but now an undercurrent has been introduced.
How can the man who about his wife uttered 'That woman is radiant' as he sailed away from her so be so casually unfaithful to her seemingly with no guilt at all.
The entire time he is flirting with Mila and out and out cheating with Laetitia he is sending affectionate photos (faked as he hasn't yet moved much!) of his trip to his wife.
It is when the peripheral characters are examined that the intentions of Podalydes become more clear.
Two men ("Atonement", "Midnight In Paris" and "A Very Long Engagement" star Michel Vuillermoz and Jean-Noel Broute) frantically paint everything in sight blue.
Mila shares Michel's passion for aeroplanes but will not wear her aeroplane earrings for an as yet unexplained reason.
And the actual French title of this film is "The Wingless Aeroplane" - a title fitting for both a kayak and for Michel.
He is an aeroplane unable to yet fly.
In the early scenes before his trip Michel rides a motorcycle and does pre-ride checks akin to that of a flight crew.
His wife Rachelle drives a tiny two seat car with only just enough room for a passenger.
Both choose vehicles suited to a single person.
And then there is a scene in which they both stand in front of their own mirrors brushing their teeth, carefully framed to make the separation glaringly obvious.
But still -there is genuine tenderness between the pair. Michel and Rachelle's picnic scene before he leaves is as sweet a portrait of a loving couple as you could hope for.
This is a film that would have us believe that it is one thing all while it is quietly, subtly introducing its true intentions behind the scenes.
The ending is both obvious and ambiguous and makes the film better in hindsight than it was as it played out.
The humour is quite quirky with bizarre dream sequences.
It is rarely hilarious but certainly there are a steady stream of giggles or at the very least satisfied smiles.
The oddness of the humour is often driven by a lot of off centre characters.
Mila is a fascinating character who is sidelined too fast but Laetitia - a passionate, vivacious woman of much appeal- is very well played by Agnes Jaoui.
If Mila is the childlike innocent, pretty and colourful then Laetitia is the grown, sexual woman.
The name Laetitia is derived from the Latin for Joy and happiness.
That Michel chooses her over Mila is no accident it would seem and the idea that he is taking a break from more than his job becomes clearer and clearer as the film builds to a Graduate-like ending that is either triumphant or tragic.
RATING: 72/ 100
CONCLUSION: An odd film that is definitely a comedy but ultimately also something else. The screenplay is uneven but the performances - particularly from the exotically gorgeous Pons and the incredible Jaoui make up for much of those weaknesses.
Screenplay: Bruno Podalydes
Music Score by: N/A
Cinematography: Claire Mathon
Edited by: Christel Dewynter
Running Time: 104 minutes
Rated: N/A - Two brief nude scenes, some mild profanity, suggested sex - about an M rating
Kicking off this year's French Film Festival is writer / director / lead actor Bruno Podalydes' "Comme un Avion" or to give it the official English language title "The Sweet Escape".
As is often the case with foreign film festivals I didn't know anything about this film.
In this case only that it was about a man who buys a kayak and gets away from it all for a while.
I did also read that it was a light comedic film as opposed to the heavy drama that I initially suspected it could be.
As the film begins light and comedic are fitting descriptions.
 |
| Bruno Podalydes as Michel |
His boss Remi (Denis Podalydes - Bruno's real life younger brother) introduces the concept of the palindrome to his team and in searching for examples Michel becomes taken with kayaks.
He buys one and assembles the frame only, pretending to paddle in secret on quiet rooftops.
Finally revealing his new passion to his wife Rachelle she accompanies him to a peaceful river so that he can begin a peaceful, solo journey downstream.
He makes a toilet stop and discovers an unusual commune of sorts populated by Laetitia - the owner of a country house (a phenomenal Agnes Jaoui) - and a ragtag group of outdoor residents including Mila (Vimala Pons)
He stays for a while and seems fascinated with the melancholy Mila who we find out later cries every time it rains because it reminds her of her lost love.
Michel finally leaves but a series of ill advised hits from a thermos of absinthe scuttles the journey and he finds himself back at the house.
The tone up until now has been light and quite humorous but when Michel suddenly makes a move on Laetitia leading to the consummation of the relationship I started to wonder what the script had in store for us.
 |
| Vimala Pons as Mila and Agnes Jaoui as Laetitia |
Now, suddenly out of his familiar surroundings and free and alone he acts on his desires.
That light and fluffy tone still remains but now an undercurrent has been introduced.
How can the man who about his wife uttered 'That woman is radiant' as he sailed away from her so be so casually unfaithful to her seemingly with no guilt at all.
The entire time he is flirting with Mila and out and out cheating with Laetitia he is sending affectionate photos (faked as he hasn't yet moved much!) of his trip to his wife.
It is when the peripheral characters are examined that the intentions of Podalydes become more clear.
Two men ("Atonement", "Midnight In Paris" and "A Very Long Engagement" star Michel Vuillermoz and Jean-Noel Broute) frantically paint everything in sight blue.
Mila shares Michel's passion for aeroplanes but will not wear her aeroplane earrings for an as yet unexplained reason.
And the actual French title of this film is "The Wingless Aeroplane" - a title fitting for both a kayak and for Michel.
He is an aeroplane unable to yet fly.
In the early scenes before his trip Michel rides a motorcycle and does pre-ride checks akin to that of a flight crew.
His wife Rachelle drives a tiny two seat car with only just enough room for a passenger.
Both choose vehicles suited to a single person.
And then there is a scene in which they both stand in front of their own mirrors brushing their teeth, carefully framed to make the separation glaringly obvious.
But still -there is genuine tenderness between the pair. Michel and Rachelle's picnic scene before he leaves is as sweet a portrait of a loving couple as you could hope for.
 |
| A marriage of two halves |
The ending is both obvious and ambiguous and makes the film better in hindsight than it was as it played out.
The humour is quite quirky with bizarre dream sequences.
It is rarely hilarious but certainly there are a steady stream of giggles or at the very least satisfied smiles.
The oddness of the humour is often driven by a lot of off centre characters.
Mila is a fascinating character who is sidelined too fast but Laetitia - a passionate, vivacious woman of much appeal- is very well played by Agnes Jaoui.
If Mila is the childlike innocent, pretty and colourful then Laetitia is the grown, sexual woman.
The name Laetitia is derived from the Latin for Joy and happiness.
That Michel chooses her over Mila is no accident it would seem and the idea that he is taking a break from more than his job becomes clearer and clearer as the film builds to a Graduate-like ending that is either triumphant or tragic.
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