I remember that during the premiere of Tu Dors Nicole at the Cannes Film Festival, many viewers left the theater before the end of the film and some left after only 30 minutes. Does that mean that the film proposed by Stéphane Lafleur is of no interest? After watching it in its entirety, I must say that it isn't the case. His film is full of interesting ideas disseminated throughout the duration.
One possible cause of the desertion of the viewers would be the rhythm. Even if the movie is only 93 minutes, the slow pace might irritate some. However, considering the subject (a young woman killing time during summer in the suburb), the pace helps to reflect the odd situations that Nicole (good performance by Julianne Côté) lives and helps to explain her jaded character.
We recognize the touch of its director in the universe he presents us with some strange, almost dreamlike, elements that reminds his precedent works such as En Terrains Connus. The soundtrack and the black-and-white cinematography help to give this impression of strangeness from situations or places that are at the same time familiar. There are some elements from the cinematographic language that are used to amplify the comic tone, but I won't spoil anything here. The humor works almost every time and is well dosed. Some situations involves misunderstandings between the characters that have at least the merit of making the viewer smile.
In the end, with the above-mentioned elements, Tu Dors Nicole is some kind of cinematographic UFO. But the film as a whole works well and depending on the patience of the viewer, it'll prove to be worth the time spent. Just for the atypical character of Martin, the film deserves to be seen and listened to in its entirety.
