No. 25 (2023) INCREDIBLE BUT TRUE (INCROYABLE MAIS VRAI) April. 5th.

 

Film No. 25  (2023)  April 5th.  11:00 AM  LUNA SX,  Cine 2,  Fremantle.

"If you accept to come with me, what you'll discover is dazzling." (The words of Alian and Maree's real estate agent in leading them to an intriguing aspect of the house).

NOMINEE : BEST FILM (Quentin Dupieux), Motovum Film Festival.

I enjoy the new concepts introduced to screen through the story-telling of the Duplass brothers (JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME, SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED). Quentin Dupieux is France's equivalent to this left-of-centre film-maker. His films include RUBBER and MANDIBLES - if you've seen either, you surely get my drift. INCROYABLE is Dupieux's most recent creation. So, yes it is high concept and no, for me, it misses the mark, but is well worth a look.

Why? Well, using the idea that a middle aged couple buy a house where the deal breaker centres on a particularly odd tunnel in its basement. The most I'll make comment on here is to say that by entering the tunnel, concepts of time travel and aging take effect on the user. It's too intriguing for Alain (Alain Chabat) and Marie (Lea Drucker) to resist.  The effect on their lives from then on becomes significant. Themes of temptation, vanity, real love, friendship, technology and regret, provide fodder for we, the audience, to muse over. 

At such a short run time (74 minutes), INCREDIBLE never outstays it's welcome and has a series of laugh out loud moments. It is a silly, absurd, comedy caper that never quite becomes the sum of all its parts. The cast, including the very amusing Benoit Magimel as Gerard, the friend who takes vanity to new levels, work each scene expertly. I just wish its conclusion brought more of it's thought provoking strands together. I'm glad I caught another of Dupieux's wild concepts on screen. He is a uniquely creative film-maker.   8GUMS.