A lyrical, almost wordless film on a one-night stand involving two strangers in Paris. The artistically made film is almost as beautiful as Aleksandr Sokurov's "Mother and Son," which in stark contrast, did not involve sex.
The best aspects of the film "Friday Night" are: (1) the screenplay adaptation of the novel (which included collaboration of the novelist Emmanuelle Bernheim herself) ; (2) the magical opening roof-top cinematography sequences of Agnes Godard (a regular Denis collaborator); (3) Dickon Hincliffe's original musical composition (a debut for him for films before he stunned us with his music in "Leave No Trace" and "Locke" and possibly his sole collaboration with Denis); (4) the performance of the lead actors (Valerie Lemercier, who plays Laure, is a film director of repute): and (5) last but not least, the fascinating direction of Denis, which included imaginary thoughts of Laure imagining Jeane (Vincent Lindon) with another pizzeria customer, spliced between real visuals. The film is slow but well-made and will be well appreciated only by knowledgeable cineastes.
The final sequence reminded me of the end-sequence of Paul Mazursky's "An Unmarried Woman."
Trivia--(1) The "for sale" notice of the car pasted on the rear window disappears halfway into the film. (2) The shots of the pizzzeria being swept did not serve any purpose.
One of the very sophisticated films of Ms Denis, who is one of my favourite active directors.
The best aspects of the film "Friday Night" are: (1) the screenplay adaptation of the novel (which included collaboration of the novelist Emmanuelle Bernheim herself) ; (2) the magical opening roof-top cinematography sequences of Agnes Godard (a regular Denis collaborator); (3) Dickon Hincliffe's original musical composition (a debut for him for films before he stunned us with his music in "Leave No Trace" and "Locke" and possibly his sole collaboration with Denis); (4) the performance of the lead actors (Valerie Lemercier, who plays Laure, is a film director of repute): and (5) last but not least, the fascinating direction of Denis, which included imaginary thoughts of Laure imagining Jeane (Vincent Lindon) with another pizzeria customer, spliced between real visuals. The film is slow but well-made and will be well appreciated only by knowledgeable cineastes.
The final sequence reminded me of the end-sequence of Paul Mazursky's "An Unmarried Woman."
Trivia--(1) The "for sale" notice of the car pasted on the rear window disappears halfway into the film. (2) The shots of the pizzzeria being swept did not serve any purpose.
One of the very sophisticated films of Ms Denis, who is one of my favourite active directors.