ISMAIL’S GHOSTS

France, 2017, 114 minutes, Colour.
Mathieu Amalric, Marion Cotillard, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Louis Garrel, Alba Rohrwacher, Laszlo Szabo, Hippolyte Girardot.
Directed by Arnaud Desplechin.

Ismail’s Ghosts has a lot going for it on paper. However, the finished product is rather unsatisfying.

The director has a strong reputation in French filmmaking. The leading cast is more than reputable. However, it is in the structuring the film, in the writing that there is some confusion and dissatisfaction.

Actually, the film opens promisingly, with a story about a young man who has become involved in the diplomatic service but who has a questionable reputation. A lot of officials seem to be running to discuss the situation and evaluate it. Then, this line of action, comes to a halt. It is part of a film that is being made and, while there are some excerpts throughout the film, with Louis Garrel is the young man, the action shifts to the maker of the film, Ismail. He is played by Mathieu Amalric.

With his story, the film veers between time eras which are 20 years apart. Ismail’s wedding, when young, to Carlotta, Marion Cotillard, who then disappears from his life. After her disappearance, he encounters Sylvie (an Astro-physicist no less) and they begin a long relationship. She is played by Charlotte Gainsbourg.

There are quite some complications about the filming, about Carlotta turning up after 20 years, the filling in her background story and motivation, the effect that it has on Ismail, Carlotta’s interactions with Sylvie, and the consequences for the filming and the pressure of the harassed producer.

A film which ends with one of the leading characters talking for some minutes to camera to explain things indicates, as has been suggested, some dissatisfaction.

1. the French story? French tone? Relationships?

2. Locations, Paris, the coast, homes, studio sets, the beaches? The musical score?

3. The structure of the film: the various pieces, the screenplay going back and forwards? Confusion and clarity?

4. The title, Ismail the focus, his life, his work as a director and writer, marrying Carlotta when he was young, his relationship with her father, her leaving him, the effect? Bloom and his friendship? His life, style, the years passing, parties, drinking, his grief, Carlotta’s portrait? The encounter with Sylvie, meeting and the drink, came to her apartment, her resistance, surveying the apartment? The beginning of the relationship, the love for each other, his continued writing?

5. The discussions with Bloom, his watching the slides of Carlotta, his regrets, the drinking, the effect?

6. Sylvie, astrophysicist, in herself, her life, relationship with a married man, her age, issues of pregnancy and children? Fascinated by Ismail, the drink, the walk home, her flat? The bond, sharing life with him, happy?

7. The significance of Ivan Daedalus, the opening of the film, the diplomats and their comments, openness a subtext? Talking, his being hired, diplomatic life, reputation? His relationship with the young woman? And the fact that this was all part of the film?

8. Carlotta, her age, return, her story, whether she was a true Carlotta or not? Going to Sylvie, knowing all about her, talking and sharing with her? Sylvie getting Ismail, his reaction, 21 years lost? Her wandering, drugs, getting on the train and going away, came to India, marrying, the death of her husband, his funeral, her return to France, nowhere to go?

9. Sylvie and her jealousy, leaving, Ismail and the sexual encounter with Carlotta? But his hostility, leaving for Paris?

10. Carlotta, the visit to her father?

11. The finale, the close-up and the focus on Sylvie and her narration of what happened?