Les Amitiés maléfiques (2006) - film review

At the start of a new term at university, three students Eloi, Alexandre and André strike up a friendship that will have life-changing repercussions.  Eloi, the son of a famous writer, feels impelled to write, but lacks the confidence to seek a publisher for his first novel.  Alexandre has a great passion for drama, but doubts he has the talent to succeed as an actor.  André, by contrast, is brimming with confidence, and no one has any doubt that he will achieve great things.  With André’s support and encouragement, Eloi and Alexandre do succeed.  But what happens to André..?

Emmanuel Bourdieu’s second full-length film – after the tepid romantic drama Vert paradis (2003) – takes us into the cloistered, verbally florid world of literary academia and shows how easy it is for the unsuspecting to be manipulated and driven by somebody whose only talent is in controlling people.   The scenario has a great deal of potential, much of which Bourdieu fails to exploit, although he does succeed in creating a convincing set of characters and a plausible storyline.

The heavy literary tone is something of a turn off at first (unless you happen to love Racine) and it does take a while for the narrative to gel, although the quality of the performances (from a very talented young cast) helps to compensate for weaknesses in other areas.  The film is watchable and thought-provoking, but it would undoubtedly have been a more attractive proposition if there had been more humour, energy and emotion, and if Bourdieu’s approach had been somewhat more daring and inspired.

© James Travers 2007

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