TOURNEE (ON TOUR)

France, 2010, 111 minutes, Colour.
Mathieu Amalric, Mimi le Meaux, Kitten on the Keys, Dirty Martini, Julie Atlas Muz, Evie Lovelle, Roky Rolette.
Directed by Mathieu Amalric.

The tour starts in Le Havre and continues south along the French coast. Those on tour are five American women who have created a New Burlesque Show, stating that they want to target women and do without men. Actually, the excerpts from their show which we see on screen look very much like the old burlesque despite the hearty applause of the women in the audiences. Their names go way beyond Gypsy Rose Lee: Mimi Le Meaux, Kitten on the Keys, Dirty Martini...

But, they are dependent on one man, their producer, Joachim Zand – who is played by the versatile actor Matthieu Amalric (many, many French films and even Bond villain in Quantum of Solace) and who also directs the film.
The uncertainties of the tour are manifest in the meanderings of the plot. There are also a lot of emotional meanderings but, especially, for Joachim who has been in the US, has used the act to get back to France where, it seems, he is not welcome to many old associates. He also makes contact with his two sons.

This means two focuses of attention, on the women and their acts (which may be more envigorating on stage than they are screen) and Joachim’s many troubles. But, all in all, there is an optimism about human nature here, right up to Joachim’s final shout – and the show must go on.

1. The combination of burlesque, 21st century style, and human stories?

2. The French setting, the city of Le Havre and the other coast cities, the visit to Paris? Clubs, cabaret world? The contrast with the ordinary world of family?

3. The title, on tour from the United States, Joachim and his reasons for coming back to France, the nature of the tour, the clubs, the shows, the dressing rooms? The women, their camaraderie, Americans in France, feeling it a closed trip, the luggage, the car, the train, wear and tear?

4. The performance: dressing rooms, their age, figures, striptease, songs, piano, dances, innovations as with the balloon? Their message? The gleeful audience response?

5. The nature of new burlesque as explained, a women’s show, women’s issues, the women audiences – no reliance on men?

6. Mimi and her character, with each of the members, with Joachim, sex with men, her illness, with the boys, chatting?

7. Julie, the exhibitionist, stealing the uniform, her flirting?

8. The others, their personalities, concerns?

9. Joachim’s story, television executive, falling out with people, his debts, ex-wife, sons, his management skills, hopes, failing, with the women, Ulysses as caring for the logistics, his anger on the phone, appeal to Francois, the appeal to Chapuis in the theatre, Chapuis and his physical abuse, Francois punching him, going to the producer in the hospital, wanting to get a theatre?

10. Meeting his boys, their age, experience, at ease with their father or not, the meals, going to the hospital, on tour, their behaviour, going home?

11. The show, the various routines, the finale and Mimi?

12. The characters of Chapuis, Francois, the producer?

13. Joachim’s preoccupation with loud music, turning it down, the reaction of the concierge?

14. The women at the kiosks, flirting? The anger of the woman in the supermarket who had seen the show?

15. Joachim, his final cry – the touch of optimism?