Film Review
Didier Martiny first made his mark as a director with his award-winning short
Il Biscione (1978). This he followed with some impressive television
documentaries, such as
Naissance du Grand Louvre (1985), and his first
feature,
Jusqu'à la nuit (1983). He then took a career
detour, scripting a number of graphic novels, before returning to cinema
to direct what is arguably his most accomplished film,
À demain,
an engaging comedy-drama which shows us life in a slightly dysfunctional
middle class family in the 1960s, from the perspective of a little boy.
This gentle, understated film is so sincere and true-to-life that it is easy
to overlook its occasional mawkish lapses and pretty conventional style of
mise-en-scène. It's a surprisingly low-key film for such an
iconic screen actress as Jeanne Moreau (the star of such memorable films
as
Jules et Jim and
La Baie des Anges) to lend
her talents to, but she was apparently so bowled over by the script that
she gladly consented to appear in it, playing an elderly matriarch in the
last few weeks of her life. It's good that Moreau did so because the
film allowed her to give one the most enchanting performances in the post-Nouvelle
Vague stage of her immense career.
Most memorable are the simple yet incredibly touching heart-to-heart scenes
with Moreau and the little boy Pierre, from whose innocent perspective the
story is told. The former's meticulous attempts to prepare the insouciant
child for her impending demise are delicately scripted and performed with
genuine poignancy, the impact being heightened by the direct, unsentimental
manner in which the scenes are played.
À demain is unlikely
to win many prizes for style or originality but it manages to be a heart-warming
nostalgia piece that succeeds in taking us back to our childhood - almost
as effectively as Albert Lamorisse's timeless classic
Le Ballon rouge (1956).
© James Travers 2006
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Film Synopsis
Whenever he has occasion to look back on his childhood, Pierre does so with
great affection. His private sanctuary is his warm bedroom in a grand
house in Paris, where he lives an idyllic childhood with his extended family
- his sister, his parents, his grandparents, and his great-grandmother.
His father and grandfather each run a medical practice from the house, whilst
his grandmother, Tété, provides acupuncture treatment.
Apart from a few domestic crises, Pierre's childhood is a happy one, filled
with precious moments and treasured memories. He has a special place
in his heart for his dying grandmother.
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.