SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE // A FILM REVIEW OF "KEEP AN EYE OUT (AU POSTE!)"
The moment we are let loose in the lunacy of KEEP AN EYE OUT (AU POSTE!), we are made aware that we are in absurdist territory. A nearly nude man calmly walks up to an outdoor orchestra and begins to conduct them. They see nothing wrong with his appearance yet halfway through, he spots the Police, who spot him. Suddenly he runs away, as the Police give chase and the orchestra continues its beautiful chords. This, by the way, has nothing to do with the rest of the film. Bring on the absurdity!
The story seems simple enough: A man named Fugain (Grégoire Ludig) stumbled upon a dead body near his apartment and reported it. He's now recounting it (in a very 70's era looking Police station) to Chief Inspector Buron (Benoît Poelvoorde), a quite incompetent officer of the law. Fugain tries to tell his story simply, but Buron keeps throwing in more and more absurdity. He questions the phrasing Fugain gives when he says that he "stepped out to get some fresh air," arguing that only the sea water is truly fresh air and that his statement is therefore not true. He also often tells Buron how utterly boring his story is, yet won't let him speed it up or even take a break to get a snack. At one point he has to leave to take care of a family matter, leaving a co-worker named Philippe (Marc Fraize), new to the force, to keep an eye on him. And since he has literally only one eye, he simply can't let him out of his sight. This leads to a very ridiculous (in the very best way) set of events that add even more confusion to the evening.
Writer/Director Quentin Dupleux has created a wonderwork here. A sort of French Monty Python lark, brimming with outrageous humor and ridiculous statements. It's quite creative as well, such as when Fugain recalls his story, the people in his present often pop up in his memory's past, even though they weren't originally there. By the end, the entire world spins wonderfully out of control and you may find yourself guessing what is even real anymore. The entire cast is dynamic, led by Ludig's helpless straight man and Poelvoorde's hilariously bumbling detective. They work off each other perfectly and Marc Fraize's energetic madness only adds fire to their already enflamed proceedings. With a brisk running time and a complete disregard for logic, KEEP AN EYE OUT (AU POSTE!) is the perfect remedy for these trying days and you'll find yourself immediately looking up what else Dupleux has created, if you're not already obsessed with him already. It's a madcap masterpiece.
GRADE: A
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Quentin Dupieux STARRING Benoît Poelvoorde, Grégoire Ludig, Marc Fraize, Anaïs Demoustier. NOW PLAYING IN SELECT CINEMAS AND VIRTUAL CINEMAS. FOR MORE INFO: https://www.dekanalog.com/films/keep-an-eye-out