INTERSECTIONS

US, 2013, 101 minutes, Colour.
Scott Grillo, Jamie Alexander, Roschdy Zem, Marie -Josee Croze, Moussa Maaskri, Charlie Bewley.
Directed by David Marconi.

Intersections is a Moroccan desert melodrama, a French production with an international cast. writer-director, David Marconi, wrote scripts for the Will Smith drama, Enemy of the State, as well as one of the Dire Hard films.

One of the main advantages of the film is its sweeping desert scenery and locations. the film opens with a helicopter ride over the desert to an isolated resort. But the main action concerns a car chase and an unexpected crash which destroys some vehicles and kills some people out in the middle of the desert.

The members of the group are not what they seem and the film spend some time unmasking them, all with some criminal connections, an Interpol criminal, businessman and his unfaithful wife, her Australian boyfriend, a young woman with a baby and a local who is able to repair the vehicle so that the group can make its way back to a city and a final resolution.

More than a bit implausible – but that is the nature of this kind of melodrama.

1. An action melodrama? Exotic settings, Morocco? Characters – and their not seeming to be what they allege?

2. Morocco, locations, the desert, helicopter rides, the vistas of the desert, the luxury resort, the ruins in the desert? Contrast with the city, hotels, the streets? The musical score?

3. The introduction to Scott and Taylor? The helicopter ride, the luxury hotel, newly married, honeymoon, his taking the business call, her wanting a cigarette? Her rendezvous with the co-worker? Their plan against Scott?

4. Scott, character, businessman, successful, in love? Taylor, sophisticated in manner, yet her duplicity? Interest in wealth and possessions?

5. The trip in the desert, planning to see the ruins, her plan for Travis to kill Scott? Their arguments, tensions? Seeing the car, the dangerous race, pursuit, the crash over the hill and the killing of the people, the destruction of the vehicles? Scott not wanting to take the blame?

6. The cross-section of people, the response to the accident and the destruction? The prisoner, killing his guard, taking off the handcuffs, pretending to help? His killing of the man in the car? His having shot the other guard, in the body bag? The man burning in the car and his killing him, allegedly to save him suffering?

7. The woman with the baby, the care of the baby, getting out of the car?

8. Travis, unconscious, the reaction of Scott and Taylor? Putting him in shelter? His coming to consciousness? Taylor talking to him, Scott discovering them together? The irony
of Travis wearing the wire and Scott knowing all about the plan his being an Australian, slurring New York?

9. Saleh and his watching, the bike, walking to the crash site? Saying that he repaired things? His contribution to fixing the car, plugging the holes, the tire? His seeming subservience?

10. The group coping, interactions, the prisoner and his eye on Taylor, knowing that she did not love her husband? His gun? The use of the water, the getting of the chickens? The group spending the night?

11. The morning, preparing to go, Saleh and his control over the car? The prisoner, the attack by Travis, his shooting him? Saleh shooting the prisoner?

12. The drive, the various stories, the flashbacks, especially for the kidnapping of the baby?

13. The prisoner, the documents, wanted by Interpol, the diamonds?

14. The clash between Scott and Taylor, going to the hotel, Scott pursuing Taylor, killing her?

15. Saleh and the woman, the contact, the attack on Saleh, the taking of the diamonds, the pursuit, shooting, the revelation of the truth about Saleh and the woman and the baby, phoning? Letting the abductor go?

16. The end, Saleh and Scott seeming to be free? The irony of the quick scene during the final credits – and the police finding the camera and the card?