NYFF AT 51 REVIEW: "JEALOUSY (LA JALOUSIE)"
BY MATTHEW CODY LANG
JEALOUSY (LA JALOUSIE) is the latest film from acclaimed film director Philippe Garrel. It stars his son, Louis Garrel and the story revolves around a young struggling actor named Louis (Garrel) who, in the beginning of the film, leaves his wife, Clothilde (Rebecca Convenant), and his child, Charlotte (Olga Milshtein), for an actress named Claudia (Anna Mouglalis) who has built up quite a resume but is in an unlucky phase trying to find work. Louis and Clothilde split but continue to care for Charlotte without much contact with each other. As the film dissects the relationships, it seems that jealousy takes over on all fronts which cause a disruption in the flow of all of their lives.
The cast is great but the stand out of the entire film is Olga Milshtein as Charlotte. I haven't seen a child actress so naturally hilarious and sweet in too long. I was oddly awe-struck at how comfortable this child was in front of a camera and dealing with the situations at hand. I really do hope she gets a lot of recognition for her role in this slightly underwhelming film. The film is shot in black and white and clocks in at about 77 minutes. It flows nicely and has several great scenes (mostly involving Milshtein) but may not be for everyone At times, it's feels a bit like a student film that can’t find it's flow. The lovely but poorly introduced music by Jean-Louis Aubert abruptly forces itself into the film but eventually does become a charming touch. The most beautiful scene in the film happens with Louis introducing his new girlfriend, Claudia, to his daughter, Charlotte, and spending the day in the park. I couldn't stop smiling from how natural and charming they all were throughout.
The script was written by four screenwriters, and it most definitely feels that way. Throughout the running time the film hops around with no clear direction or purpose. Though there were many distracting things in this film that did not work, it’s not a complete bust. There were plenty of beautiful moments and I cannot rave enough about Olga Milshtein.
VERDICT: On the Fence
Written by Marc Cholodenko, Caroline Deruas-Garrel, Phillippe Garrel, Arlette Langmann Directed by: Phillippe Garrel Starring: Louis Garrel, Rebecca Convenant, Olga Milshtein, Anna Mouglalis Country: France
BOTTOM LINE: If you love French cinema, give this a shot. The writing isn't the best but the performances are wonderful.