À tout de suite (2004)

Touches You

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

A Tout de Suite is one of those little-seen and little-known French films that play for a couple of weeks at the Angelika theater in New York City- and subsequently get a playing once or twice on the Sundance channel- and it stays fairly in obscurity for the rest of cinema's days. I saw it first in the theater on a whim, and I was pleasantly (if that's the word to use) surprised on how effective the minimalistic style used by Benoît Jacquot helped suppress the probable insufferable melodrama. It tells the story of Lili (Le Besco), who is 19 and is surrounded by a kind of teenage wasteland, though mostly through her relationship with a man who is a thief. He gets in a botched bank robbery and has to hide away, and she does so with him...all the way out of France and into a Muslim country (or what seems like it, maybe it was Morocco). It's not anything that leads to any big point about adolescent angst or disillusionment or even about bourgeois discontent, but it's a fascinating film for what Jacquot decides to show with small scenes, of moments so contemplative just based around how he and his DP shoot the actors (mostly in close-ups), and how time feels not totally joined together in a weird way. And while IMDb says different, as I remembered seeing it the Pink Floyd song Shine on You Crazy Diamond was used to fantastic effect, in a similarly subdued manner. Nothing is very highly charged with emotions, and if they are it's only in small, sudden bursts; everything is so under the surface it's as if everything will come out at the seams as Lili wanders in a daze around a foreign country- a true Lost in Translation scenario, all based on a faux- love situation.Bottom line, if you want to watch some good- and yes, pretentious- film-making, this is one to keep an eye on for a real late-night screening on IFC or Sundance or whatever, and see if it's worth the couple of hours. I was very glad I took a chance back in 2005 in that near empty theater, even if I haven't seen the film since, as it has that authentic, independent feeling that leaves one oddly satisfied.

Enjoyed this movie. As one reviewer said: it shows what it was like to be 19 again. I liked the way the story was developed but wish there was a sequel. It somehow touched me deeply, especially the way it dealt with sexuality. The way the story ended was interesting - but frustrating. I would like to see more movies by this director. The scenery shots were nice. I wish the movie could have been a little longer, so as to develop more of the story. I saw the movie several times, just in case I would never be able to see it again ever. The fact that it is based on a book, a memoir makes it all the more fascinating. I was interested in hearing that the female star was of mixed heritage. I would like to read the book from which this story was taken but it does not seem to be available in the US - translated or not.

This film is showing on Sundance Channel currently, in it's Festival Version (i.e. with the Pink Floyd music). I can't imagine them using Tangerine Dream instead of the Floyd...The film is murky in it's storytelling. The plot, if you call it one, is not particularly new, but it bears paying attention to. For the life of me, and I was following quite closely, I couldn't figure out the main character's NAMES! I'm not sure they were even mentioned! The lead actress is incredibly attractive, if pouty throughout the entire piece. The other actresses have that same sensibility, if they aren't featured very much. I suppose the boys are good looking as well.It's a beautifully framed film, the mese en scene is particularly noteworthy, however, it's 96 minute run time is at least 10 minutes too long, and the lack of a cohesive narrative will put most off.Additionally, the white subtitles are very difficult to read in spots. I can't understand why someone would put white subtitles on a black and white film. Yellow would have been a much better choice.

The good news (for guys) is that rising French actress Isild Le Besco ("The Cost of Living") is shaping up to be France's answer to American starlet Scarlett Johansson. Both actresses are alike physically with their long blonde hair and full lips, but Isild is far less shy when it comes to full back and/or frontal nudity.The bad news is that this practically dialogue-free excursion into the life of criminals on the run is only compelling if you remind yourself that this film based on a true story. Otherwise, the coupling of Le Besco's unnamed character with a young Moroccan has little chemistry if any.Set in the 70's, director Benoit Jacquot has shot in B&W to make his use of archive footage seem less obtrusive, but the marked contrast between the worn newsreels as his crystal clear photography negates that subterfuge. Plus none of the actors seems to have any sensibility of the period either, probably since many of them weren't even born in the 70's.Story revolves around a 19 year old art student (Le Besco) who meets a guy in a bar and falls immediately for his Moroccan friend. She learns later (on the TV news) that both men are bank robbers so she does what any teenager in love would do - she goes with them. Action moves from France to Spain, then Morocco and Greece. On paper you'd think this film would move along fluidly but depending on your identification with the characters this could be the longest 96 min. of your life.The film does get interesting in the last reel when the heroine realizes the error of her ways just after a sexual spree revealed in some explicit sex scenes.Worth a look (how often do you get to see B&W photography these days anyway).