Les Filles ne savent pas nager
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In Theaters : 18 October, 2000 |
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Les Filles ne savent pas nager Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥ |
Another overrated, underachieving, unimpressive French film
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This movie epitomizes the sub-genre of "French films". Which is to say it engenders every tired stereotype of what makes some French films either unwatchable or unenjoyable (the other type of films from France or by French directors, including Jean-Pierre Juinet/Luc Besson/ etc, who have a good sense of pacing and action and frenetic mood).
To explain my statement about stereotypical French films, the movies in question consistently consist of stilted arthouse drama with unlikable characters who do not have much use for the concept of understatement or indoor voice, whose lives are always immersed in melodrama, whether or not circumstances warrant it. These films also do not seem to place much value in pacing, and indeed regard a slow and plodding progression as an indication of depth and thought, even if such elements are not evident. Something else that seems troubling about this kind of French film (if not the culture itself) is the seemingly nonchalant attitude about physical coercion in sexual encounters. In more than one interview, Gerard Depardieu has cavalierly waxed nostalgic about participating in gang rapes during his teen years. Correspondingly, this film has more than one occasion of where a teenage girl is assaulted, and in each case the matter is regarded with minor (if any) attention at best.
There is also the inveterately disfunctional interactions between all parties in this film, as is so common. As it turns out, hardly of the characters are particularly likable or sympathetic. The father was conveyed as a marginally sympathetic character at the end, until his encounter with Lise. One thing I will give the French credit for is that they do not feel compelled towards using formulaic, predictable happy endings.
Aside from this, the title has an apt metaphor in the plot that has been mentioned in other reviews. However, I was not very impressed with the film, for the plodding execution and other reasons listed. I didn't think the movie was completely terrible, but I also think it wasn't very strong (barely 2 stars). Additionally, both the film's synopsis and several other sources are guilty of misleading descriptions regarding the so-called erotic/sensual nature of the girls' relationship. If this is why you are renting it, you will be very disappointed. Otherwise, if you are an unremitting Francophile or praiser of foreign films, you will find some excuse to laud this film, if for no other reason than your need to.
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