LA FRONTIERE DE L'AUBE (THE DAWN SHORE)

France, 2008, 106 minutes, Black and white.
Louis Garrel, Clementine Poidatz, Laura Smet.
Directed by Philippe Garrel.

Philippe Garrel has decided to tell a romantic, amour fou, story in the style of French film-making of forty years ago or more. It is in black and white, uses captions and dialogue that is ripe and sometimes melodramatic. Some French critics see it as poetic. Others were not so sympathetic, nor were non-French reviewers.

Louis Garrel, the director’s son, appeals to many audiences although his screen presence in such films as Dans Paris, Chanson de l’amour and even Bertollucci’s Dreamers, seems to be excessively passive making it difficult to empathise with his emotional life. Here he is a photographer who is smitten (though this seems more cerebral than feeling) with a moody and depressed married film star whom he goes to photograph. They love, they clash, she dies.

Two years later, he is engaged to an attractive and wealthy girl and is about to be married. The actress begins to appear in a mirror, a vengeful figure which a friend, quite rightly, advises him is his sub-conscious. However, it all builds up to a highly, highly melodramatic climax which seems more like a theatrical tragedy than real life.

1.The style of Philippe Garrel? Old-style film-making? Its impact?

2.Paris, apartments, the streets, the countryside and the mansion? The style of black and white photography?

3.The structure of the film: the focus on Francois, his encounter with Carole, their relationship, the breaking of the relationship? The year later, the relationship with Eve? The introduction of the ghost? The build-up to tragedy?

4.The style of the film, black and white poetic, the audience response – especially to the presence of the ghost? The musical score?

5.Francois, in himself, past relationships, working as a photographer, going to the appointment, meeting Carole, the entourage, the photo shoot? Her breaking it off? The next appointment, the work? The beginning of the relationship, the mad love? Francois and his giving himself to Carole? Her demands and moods? Going to London? Her meeting the actor and Francois’ suspicion? Her husband and the relationship, absent, his return from Los Angeles? Her deceit? The build-up to the relationship, the passion? Her depression, the break with Francois, her killing herself? Francois’ reaction?

6.A year later, Eve, a good young woman, the relationship with Francois? Her pregnancy? The engagement, going to the countryside, Francois meeting her parents, the family, the discussions with her father? Her wealth? The passion?

7.Francois, his feelings of guilt about Carole, her suddenly appearing in the mirror, her dire comments, the reappearances and the effect on Francois?

8.Francois, his friend, the advice about the subconscious, the appearances as his own feelings and trying to cope with guilt?

9.The preparations for the wedding, the day, Francois in his room, seeking Carole’s presence again, her demands on him, wanting her to be with him? His killing himself?

10.The impact of this kind of story and treatment on French audiences? French sensibility? Worldwide audiences?