|
The Big Picture
| Released |
22 July 2011 |
| Director |
Eric Lartigau |
Starring
|
Romain Duris, Catherine Deneuve, Niels Arestrup, Marina Fois, Branka Katic |
Writer(s)
|
Laurent de Bartillat,
Eric Lartigau |
| Producer(s) |
Pierre-Ange Le Pogam |
| Origin |
France |
| Running Time |
111 minutes |
| Genre |
Drama |
| Rating |
15A |
|
|
Photofit.
Slowly becoming one of France's most sought after young actors, Romain Duris has built up solid working relationships with art house iconoclasts like Tony Gatlif (Gadjo Dilo, Exils) Cédric Klapisch (Russian Dolls, Le Péril Jeune, Paris) and Christophe Honoré (Dans Paris, Seventeen Times Cecile Cassard). Discovered in the checkout lane at a supermarket by Klapisch, over the years the young art student has turned into a seasoned actor, winning over audiences in a series of weighty, emotional roles yet still managing to bring touches of humour and honesty to each. With great support from Niels Arestrup (acting with Duris for the first time since their award winning turn as father and son in 2005's The Beat That My Heart Skipped), Catherine Deneuve, Eric Ruf, Marina Foïs and another arthouse favourite Branka Katic (Black Cat, White Cat, In July), The Big Picture sets out to impress.
Startling moments of violence combine with deep introspection in this character driven French adaption of the Douglas Kennedy novel of the same name. Titled The Man Who Wanted To Live His Life in France, Romain Duris plays Paul Exben who, in the midst of his marriage's demise, rediscovers his dreams of being a photographer. Like an existential bildungsroman birthed out of the mind of Patricia Highsmith, The Big Picture is half journey of self discovery and half fugitive drama. Paul Exben becomes an accidental anti-hero seeking happiness outside of material wealth and family when through incidents beyond his control he loses all he thought was important to him.
It's unfair to reveal anything more plot-wise, other than to say adept at playing men caught between two worlds and different ideologies Duris has the necessary sensitivity, presence and unpredictability to make director Eric Lartigau's The Big Picture another worthwhile trip to the cinema for those that value good performances and interesting tales.
- Cormac O’Brien |
