Film Review
After making a promising directing debut with his amiable rom-com
Amour et turbulences (2003),
Alexandre Castagnetti gravitated to the realm of fantasy with his family-friendly
offering
Le Grimoire d'Arkandias
(2014). Castagnetti stays with the younger market for his third feature,
Tamara, a lively teen comedy adapted from a series of popular comic
books by Zidrou and Darasse (respectively the creators of
L'Élève Ducobu
and
Le Gang Mazda). Positively stuffed with clichés and
second-hand humour, and with an annoying tendency to slip into soppiness
of the most aggravating kind, there is little in this lightweight film that
would make it appeal to an adult audience.
Recently (around the mid-2010s), there has been a spate of French films of
varying quality preoccupied with the pangs of adolescence (
Juillet août (2016) and
Jamais contente (2017) deal
with the subject more authentically) - so this fairly insipid variation on
the same theme, dressed up as a not very convincing feel-good movie, is unlikely
to add much to what has already been expressed by more capable screenwriters
and directors. To a degree, Castagnetti was able to redeem himself
with his next film - a far more inspired and wackier kind of teen movie,
La Colle (2017).
On a more positive note,
Tamara boasts a strong central performance
from Héloïse Martin, who is captivating in her first screen role,
with some impressive support from Sylvie Testud, Cyril Guei and Oulaya Amamra.
It's worth noting that a few months before this film's original release in
France, Amamra became an overnight star, winning considerable acclaim for
her leading role in Houda Benyamina's
Divines,
a much more involving depiction of adolescent turmoil.
© James Travers 2017
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Film Synopsis
Tamara is a 15-year-old girl who is just a little too conscious of the fact
that she is carrying a few kilos too many. Her rotundity makes her
the object of her classmates' cruel humour so she decides to get her own
back. To that end, she has a bet with her best friend that she can
get a date with the next boy that comes past her. Luckily for her,
her intended victim is Diego, the most good-looking and desirable boy in
the school. Tamara soon puts into action her plan of seduction, willing
to use every means at her disposal to ensure a successful outcome.
But life at home has taken a difficult turn now that Tamara's mother has
found herself a new man friend. All's fair in love and war - especially
when there's personal honour at stake...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.