ROMAN DE GARE (CROSSED OVER)
France, 2007, 103 minutes, Colour.
Dominique Pinon, Fanny Ardant, Audrey Dana, Michele Bernier, Myriam Boyer.
Directed by Claude Lelouch.
Claude Lelouch won an Oscar in 1966 for A Man and a Woman, a lush and emotional drama. Before that, and energetically since, Lelouch has made a constant stream of beautiful, emotional films which have, even when they are sad or, indeed, tragic, like his update of Les Miserables, have a sunnier quality and look than most French films.
This is the case here in this roman de gare, 'railway novel' (or 'airport novel') tale, which opens with the leading lady accused of the murder of her ghost writer and which takes us back to what is the plot of a novel being acted out for an ultimate masterpiece.
Lelouch has used the clever mode of misdirection of audience attention, making us assume aspects of plot and character which are not true at all. And this, of course, leads to a number of twists in a complex plot.
It is fascinating to see French actor, Dominique Pinon, whom film buffs will recognise from Delicatessen and many films. They may not know his name, but he is the small actor with a mouth and jaw which looked somehow squashed and have led to his playing offbeat, even bizarre, roles. Lelouch has given him a leading role here, a mysterious man, of whom audiences are suspicious and for the most part, questioning his behaviour and motives.
The leading lady, a celebrity novelist, is played in grande dame style by Fanny Ardant. Matching her, is Audrey Dana as a moody hairdresser who becomes a central character in the novel.
With locations in Paris, in French villages and beautiful countryside as well as Cannes and Alba, the film is designed as a popular entertainment – with quality.
1.Claude Lelouch and his forty-plus years of entertainment, lush style, sunny dramas, mysteries, romances?
2.The title, the airport novel? The indication of the plot of the film as well as its theme? Style?
3.The locations, the suburb in Paris, the open road, restaurants and service stations, the countryside and farms, Cannes and yachts? TV world? Glossy, sunny France? The musical score?
4.The complexity and intrigue of the plot, the author and her success, TV interview, the reality of the ghost writer? The serial killer? The magician? The teacher leaving family? On the road, Hughuette and the clash with Paul? The rescue, going to the farm? How much is real, how much imagined? The anticipation of the novel? Cannes, the confrontations, death and the consequences? The novelist and her death?
5.Judith, the television interview, the expose, as a novelist, her suave manner, signing books? God, the other? (*the Other?) Her fans? Her arrest? Interrogation? Suspicions because of her previous marriage and the death of her young husband? The background of the vineyards? Fanny Ardant and her style?
6.The serial killer, the magician, paedophile? The story? Suspicions of Louis? Is Louis Pierre? His leaving his family in Paris? Driving? The encounter with Huguette? Watching her, rescuing her? Going to the farm? The claims that he is the fiancé? The staged sex scene? The parents and their attitude? His disappearance?
7.Pierre, his wife and children? His sister or not? Her being interrogated, the story, her being attracted to the detective?
8.Paul and Huguette, the travel, the hairdresser, her complaints, Paul as a doctor? The arguments? The break-up? Pierre/Louis going to the farm, posing, the weekend? The bond with Huguette? Leaving?
9.Pierre and his arrival in Cannes, the yacht, Judith and her way of life? Wealth? Their discussions about the next book? His using the experience with Huguette, having made notes on his recorder? Pierre and his suspicions about Judith, that she was planning to kill him? The encounter, the early morning, his disappearance? Presumed dead?
10.Judith, the success of her book, Pierre’s arrival, the possible expose – and her killing herself?
11.Pierre and Huguette, his going back to her – and a new life?
12.How enjoyable and entertaining the twists and turns, the reality and imagination? An airport
