IMELDA 3 is delightful and funny in the way the first two are but is also emotional in a way they are not.
The humor stems from Imelda interacting with her old friend, Simone, a successful singer in a church. Simone reflects on her life and insecurities, particularly relating to her weight after singing a perfectly written song: "The Fat One." While she describes the history of insults she has endured in her life, Imelda sits behind her nodding along with each insult. She then adds on to them in the way only she can. This is enjoyable to watch but what I found moving is the depth of the relationship that hides beneath this harsh, critical dynamic between the women. It is based on their history together; they know each other so well they can say something that cuts to the core of the other. It is almost like two enemies who have a mutual respect for each other that is just under the surface tension of their conflicted relationship. They derive appreciation for each other because they know what can hurt the other the most.
Like Villeneuve's first two Imelda films, this is beautifully shot, particularly the opening scene with the frog and the gorgeous church interior where the exquisitely talented Ginette Reno as Simone sings. The song itself is perfectly composed for the character about her insecurities concerning her weight. This cuttingly contrast with Imelda who prides herself on always being as thin as could be and is unabashed in her willingness to point out Simone's negative traits and concerns about her weight.
Beneath the negativity is actually a genuine respect and love. This sincere side of Imelda is not depicted in the first two films, or remains hidden behind her acidity, but is on display here through her relationship with Simone in a heartfelt, moving way.
This film is very funny at parts, because of Imelda's bluntness and Villeneuve's incarnate performance, but on the whole it is more emotionally poignant than IMELDA and IMELDA 2. Gorgeously shot, framed and filmed. I wouldn't have thought Villeneuve could have topped the first two films, but this was as good if not better than them. I would say the second was better than the first, in terms of humor and humanizing Imelda, but that the third is the best at illustrating the depth of her character. A character that one feels glued to even just watching her listen.
