Comme une image [Look At Me]
(c) AJMalouin 2006
(Rating: 3 by Al)
(2004—Agnes Jaoui—France/Italy) (1 hr 50. Rated PG-13 for brief language and a sexual reference.)
This is the film you should rent this weekend. Al took his good friend Annette to see it as her first visit to the Detroit Film Theatre and, subtitles and all, she called it “a very good first visit” to Al’s favorite film venue. When the two of them spoke of this film recently, Annette said she would gladly see it again. “Look at Me” tells the story of an overweight, talented young woman who is smothered (psychologically only, thank heavens!), and far worse even, totally ignored by her overbearing, self-centered, egotistical father, a writer. (Doesn’t that figure?) Though a budding singer with a fine fine voice, the 20-year-old young woman’s treatment by her father has stripped her of all self-esteem. Worse yet, the young woman thinks that all human beings only befriend her fat self so that they can get close to her father— who is not only an egotistical writer, but also very famous and a book publisher. The plot sounds glum (especially when *we* write about it) but this film is actually a laugh-out-loud comedy. A sub-plot comes from Laurent Grevill, who plays an upcoming writer who kowtows shamelessly to Lolita’s power-wielding father. (As a footnote, this kowtowing writer looks somewhat like Al. While no enticement to see the film, neither is it sufficient reason to avoid it.) Throughout the film, the dialogue is sharp and witty. The French meals are exquisite (excepting, permaybe, for The Rabbit.) The classical music score is flawless and fabulous. The scenery is beautifully romantic. The film has that soft, dreamy, luminescent look and feel scene in many other French films. After seeing this film, not even Bush hisself would dislike things French. The fat girl, Lolita, is played beautifully by newcomer Marilou Berry. The dead-pan funny, quick-comeback script was co-written by Anges Jaoui and Jean-Pierre Bacri. Bacri also plays the monstrously funny egomaniacal writer/publisher. Jaoui directs and also plays Lolita’s music teacher Sylvia. Rent this funny, bright French film — subtitles and all — as soon as you can.