Los amores de Anaïs

Greetings again from the darkness. Barely five minutes in, we have concluded that Anais is a whirlwind of activity. She's behind on her rent and yet turns the conversation with her landlord to fruit juice and a smoke alarm. This is the first feature film from writer-director Charline Bougeois-Tacquet who benefits greatly with the presence of lead actor Anais Demoustier. I have no idea if the name is a coincidence or whether this was written with her in mind, but we quickly realize that Anais is a mess ... a charming mess and one for which hope remains.

Anais is always late. She walks, runs, or rides her bicycle everywhere. Her bright red lipstick is always on display, and she's claustrophobic and prefers to sleep alone. The constant twinkle in her eye means folks look past her seemingly carefree approach to real life, as she makes the best of each landing spot in her directionless path(s) through each day. We observe and learn all of these things on top of the big secret she's been keeping from her boyfriend Raoul (Christophe Montenez). During the exchange they have when he breaks up with her, she says, "You are violent in your inertia." This may be my favorite line of the year. What others view as stability and dependability, Anais views as inertia and unappealing.

When Anais takes Daniel (Denys Podalydes) as a lover, it's the older, married man who ends it by stating he doesn't want his life to change. Anais shrugs and turns her attention and affections to Daniel's wife, Emilie (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, HUMAN CAPITAL, sister of Carla Bruni). Emilie is a famous author and Anais worms her way in by tracking Emilie to Normandy where she's holding a symposium. Writing, books, and literature play subtle yet key roles throughout ... as if Anais is trying to live out so many of the stories she's read.

If there is anything lacking here, it's traditional character conflict. Even the surprise collision of Daniel, Emilie, and Anais at the symposium doesn't pack the dramatic or comedic punch we would expect. Anais is never much concerned, so neither are we as viewers. We are too enamored and intrigued with her energy and spirit to let real life cause consternation. The subplot with Anais' mother is the closest we see Anais come to 'normal' emotions, but even getting to that point, is yet another whirlwind.

In theaters April 29, 2022 and On Demand May 6, 2022.

There's a regrettable, sexist tendency for movies to feature ditzy female characters, who are not just young and pretty, but also young (meaning immature) at heart, and in need of a good strong man to take care of them. 'Anais in Love' is almost one of those films, in that its titular protagonist is indeed a bit juvenile; but she's also strong-willed, proactive, and not looking to be saved on anybody else's terms. Indeed, deviating from the traditional rom-com template, she starts out chasing men then falls for a woman. The problem here is rather the ending, which is underwhelming, bland, and critically not the consequence of the character's own actions. We see Anais careering through various affairs throughout the film, then one of these ends, and with that, so does the film. It feels like there's a missing coda, some concluding section where Anais comes to terms with what she has learnt from her experiences or fails to do so. Instead, the film just ends, oddly inconclusively.

The film is very captivating, as long as you put aside your prejudices and preconceptions, and let yourself go. The main character is very attractive and is shown leading a life with obstacles, but also overcoming them, to the point that not only his social, family, economic, but also emotional well-being comes into play, for which against all odds she fights to be happy.

I had the opportunity to immerse myself emotionally in the story, thanks to the excellent performances of the main leads and the way the director managed to capture the emotions of these great actresses.

The ending is priceless and is the consecration of a great story.

Another one of those-almost uniquely French-light but sensitive, flippant but deep, seemingly inconsequential but thought-provoking, inviting shedding after viewing but stubbornly lingering in one's memory; beautifully acted, beautifully filmed; this offering (discovered on a UK free film channel) comes from a long line of similar French films going right back to Eric Rohmer's works and earlier.

Inevitably, one has to have sex scenes, but thankfully the French still know how to portray tasteful eroticism, an art that the American cinema rarely found. My one adverse criticism would be over the director's sometimes edgy camera work (hand held?) that I found a bit fatiguing.

Are the Japanese the only other world cinema consistently putting out these oeuvres?

Sometimes, rarely, you come across a film that is so disappointing that you are sort of reeling from it the morning after, thinking you'd better done the accounting, washed your hair, or stared at a patch on your carpet.

This is one of those blessedly rare films.

This film lives or dies by the amount of sympathy you can summon for the scatterbrained, narcissistic, hyperactive protagonist. If you attracted by her, or aspire to be like her, you may make it to the end.

For the rest of us, what remains is a sort of 21st century French comedy cliche' bingo: manic pixie girl? Check! A touch of Amelie Poulain? Check! Slightly nauseating sex scene with an extremely older guy? Check! Mother who has cancer, because that's what older women do right? Check! A touch of sapphic love? Check!

I gave up about two thirds in. I don't know how it ends but I can sort of figure it out. I am also slightly outraged this has been compared with the much superior "The worst person in the world", which features a similar protagonist and similar themes, but with so much more originality and insight.