Pacifiction (2022)
(Tourment sur les îles)
Country: FR/SP/GER/POR/FR.POLY
Technical: col/2.39:1 165m
Director: Albert Serra
Cast: Benoît Magimel, Pahoa Mahagafanau, Marc Susini, Sergi López
Synopsis:
The governor of a French Polynesian island (the notes say Tahiti, but that is one of many pieces of information with which we are not privileged by the producers) finds himself increasingly troubled by rumours that France is preparing to resume nuclear testing in the vicinity.
Review:
Possibly one of the most boring films ever made (and, as Woody would say, in such large portions!), this Lowry-esque 'thriller' ought to have been dubbed Under the Atoll; at any rate, 'under' is precisely where it will send you if you persevere with its interminable succession of scenes devoid of dramatic content, in which taciturn characters gaze meaningfully at each other or the horizon, only to occasionally utter gnostic predictions or veiled threats. One is not even certain if Magimel, who is on screen most of the time, is a good person or a bad one. Is he having a relationship with Shannah, his transexual secretary? Is he really going to burn down the nightclub? What are these places he visits in his crumbling fiefdom? Why do the girls go to the ship if they are so maltreated? What is the Portuguese doing there, and what is the business with his passport about? The list of unanswered questions is practically endless, or would be if we were even invited to care about the answers. Meanwhile Tahiti, as if to reinforce the shame of the French government's alleged imperial posturing, smoulders in red and blue neon, looking splendid. Clearly Serra enjoys shooting at night (cf. Liberté).
(Tourment sur les îles)
Country: FR/SP/GER/POR/FR.POLY
Technical: col/2.39:1 165m
Director: Albert Serra
Cast: Benoît Magimel, Pahoa Mahagafanau, Marc Susini, Sergi López
Synopsis:
The governor of a French Polynesian island (the notes say Tahiti, but that is one of many pieces of information with which we are not privileged by the producers) finds himself increasingly troubled by rumours that France is preparing to resume nuclear testing in the vicinity.
Review:
Possibly one of the most boring films ever made (and, as Woody would say, in such large portions!), this Lowry-esque 'thriller' ought to have been dubbed Under the Atoll; at any rate, 'under' is precisely where it will send you if you persevere with its interminable succession of scenes devoid of dramatic content, in which taciturn characters gaze meaningfully at each other or the horizon, only to occasionally utter gnostic predictions or veiled threats. One is not even certain if Magimel, who is on screen most of the time, is a good person or a bad one. Is he having a relationship with Shannah, his transexual secretary? Is he really going to burn down the nightclub? What are these places he visits in his crumbling fiefdom? Why do the girls go to the ship if they are so maltreated? What is the Portuguese doing there, and what is the business with his passport about? The list of unanswered questions is practically endless, or would be if we were even invited to care about the answers. Meanwhile Tahiti, as if to reinforce the shame of the French government's alleged imperial posturing, smoulders in red and blue neon, looking splendid. Clearly Serra enjoys shooting at night (cf. Liberté).
(Tourment sur les îles)
Country: FR/SP/GER/POR/FR.POLY
Technical: col/2.39:1 165m
Director: Albert Serra
Cast: Benoît Magimel, Pahoa Mahagafanau, Marc Susini, Sergi López
Synopsis:
The governor of a French Polynesian island (the notes say Tahiti, but that is one of many pieces of information with which we are not privileged by the producers) finds himself increasingly troubled by rumours that France is preparing to resume nuclear testing in the vicinity.
Review:
Possibly one of the most boring films ever made (and, as Woody would say, in such large portions!), this Lowry-esque 'thriller' ought to have been dubbed Under the Atoll; at any rate, 'under' is precisely where it will send you if you persevere with its interminable succession of scenes devoid of dramatic content, in which taciturn characters gaze meaningfully at each other or the horizon, only to occasionally utter gnostic predictions or veiled threats. One is not even certain if Magimel, who is on screen most of the time, is a good person or a bad one. Is he having a relationship with Shannah, his transexual secretary? Is he really going to burn down the nightclub? What are these places he visits in his crumbling fiefdom? Why do the girls go to the ship if they are so maltreated? What is the Portuguese doing there, and what is the business with his passport about? The list of unanswered questions is practically endless, or would be if we were even invited to care about the answers. Meanwhile Tahiti, as if to reinforce the shame of the French government's alleged imperial posturing, smoulders in red and blue neon, looking splendid. Clearly Serra enjoys shooting at night (cf. Liberté).