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Kaffeine Buzz
reviews independent and foreign films,
in addition to reporting the latest buzz behind
Colorado's film festivals.
5 x 2 (Francois Ozon)
You may be familiar with French director Francious
Ozon for his last film “Swimming Pool,”
released in 2003. He is a man who has a gift for
picking the right actors to play the characters
in his mind, to assemble personalities that bring
those characters to life instead of going with
big names that have impressive resumes.
In “5 x 2” he goes the route of what
seems to be a new angle on story development,
starting with the end and reeling backwards in
time to when the actual story first began. It
is an interesting method, and even more so in
this film since Ozon is one who makes movies that
cause you to ponder hours or days after the credits
roll.
The married couple -- Marion played by Bruni-Tedeschi
and Gilles played by Stephane Freiss -- are in
the official process of finalizing their divorce
in the opening scene. Their characters reflect
the state of their relationship on their face,
which is drawn, exhausted, lifeless and almost
gray. As their story turns backwards, you see
them looking fresher and with almost a glow in
the last scene when they begin their new but fateful
journey together.
Taking a look into the aspect of the human condition,
and relationships in particular, “5 x 2”
goes through the five major times in this couple’s
life, from her romp with a complete stranger on
their wedding night, his abandonment of her during
the birth of their child, and their first encounter
while they were both vacationing in Italy…when
he was there with his girlfriend of four years.
Both actors were excellent at showing the deep
affection, attraction and actual love this couple
had for each other. While neither were saints
or martyrs, Gilles’ character portrayed
many of the cliché weaknesses of the male
species, which he then takes to an extent many
men would refrain from.
This was a very unique and welcomed aspect of
the birth and death of a relationship, mainly
because it truthfully presented who these people
were from the beginning to the end. In reflecting
on the beginning scene, it then comes as no surprise
that they eventually go their separate ways.
http://www.thinkfilmcompany.com/
-Kim Owens, August 12, 2005
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