9mm (2008)
Directed by Taylan Barman

Film Review

Taylan Barman's follow-up to his debut feature Au-delà de Gibraltar (2001) serves up a similarly idiosyncratic slice of life, one that eloquently depicts the separation between three members of the same (highly dysfunctional) family.  Not only have the three characters in the film lost the ability to communicate with one another, they seem to inhabit completely different worlds - the mother who is absorbed in her work as a police officer, the father who wallows in depression after losing his job, and the bored teenage son who hooks up with the local hoodlums for want of something to do.  9mm is a thoughtful and at times poignant portrayal of a disintegrating society but it lacks the depth and focus it needs to be entirely effective as a piece of drama or social commentary.

There is little to fault on the acting front - the three principles are well-matched to their roles and give exemplary performances.  Morgan Marinne is particularly convincing as the moody, self-destructive adolescent, a near relation of the role he previously played in the Dardenne brothers' Le Fils (2002), whilst Serge Riaboukine and Anne Coesens reinforce the film's stark realism with their sober portrayals of the boy's ill-matched parents.  Whilst 9mm isn't as attention grabbing and rewarding as Taylan Barman's first feature, it is sincere, imaginatively crafted and provides a bleak meditation on the ennui, frustrations and divisions that plague our society today.

Film Synopsis

A typical day in the life of a typical family in the north of France.  Nadine, the mother, is an officer in the anti-drugs squad and is the first to leave the family home.  Roger, the father, mopes about the house, depressed and unemployed after an accident.  Laurent, the son, gives the impression of getting ready for school, although he in fact intends to bunk off and spend the day with his friends.  The day starts like any other.  But it will prove to be a far from ordinary day...