Lebenswut

This 1986 film is the first from Olivier Assayas from his own script and if there are echoes of the work of Eric Rohmer, this is still an impressive debut. The writing is good and the direction solid, if somewhat lacking in the wondrous visuals we will come to expect. A group of youngsters, seemingly from rather well off backgrounds have a struggling rock band in the post punk era. We hear a couple of New Order tracks to help set the mood and the film's title may be another reference. To a non French observer the kids seem far too introspective and overly concerned about who sleeps with who to really make it in the cut and thrust world they suggest they want to be a part of but it is engaging enough and different enough to hold the attention. It is certainly good enough to make the subsequent directorial career of Mr Assayas inevitable and most welcome.