L’Anniversaire (2005) - film review

Raphaël Kessler is one of Europe’s leading television producers.  One day, he is given the manuscript of a book written by his brother, Alberto, recounting their adventures in the 1980s when they ran an independent radio station.  Although Alberto reproaches his brother for exploiting this early success to win fame and fortune for himself at the expense of his collaborators, Raphaël supports the book’s publication.  He then decides to invite Alberto and several old friends to his luxury villa in Marrakech to celebrate his birthday.  What begins as a happy reunion soon turns into something much nastier.  Some of Raphaël’s so-called friends have a few scores to settle...

Once more, Diane Kurys demonstrates that her best work is beyond her and receding into the distance at an alarming rate.  After the disappointing Je reste! (2003) comes this structureless compendium of clichés which has nothing whatsoever to commend it.  The flair that Kurys has demonstrated in her earlier films has clearly deserted her and it looks as if she may have been directing this film in her sleep.  The script certainly could not have been written by someone who was conscious of what was being hammered into the word processor.  L’Anniversaire marks a new low for Kurys, although chronic insomniacs will like it because it does at least make an effective alternative to the sleeping pill.

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