btodorov

American know-it-all's who have never read Boris Vian should not even think of commenting the movie. Yes, Vian is an extravagant author, his books do not make too much sense and some people deservedly consider him a snob. But, snob or not, he was a phenomenon of his own and he has his huge following of admirers who see in him a major star in the post-war French, and European, culture. This movie is made with love and respect for Vian's style, panache and craziness: he would have loved it. If you are not a Vian admirer, do not waste your time watching this movie: you would not even come close to it.

Hats off to the designer, Stephane Rozenbaum: one of the most amazing visual concepts ever!

Something is missing in this movie and it is the very gist. Oliver (McGregor) is sad, he is always sad, there is a dog (the best acting part in the movie) that follows him everywhere, and Anna (Melanie Laurent) winks in a charmingly mischievous way throughout the movie, yet she is very sad too. One does not, however, understand whence all that sadness: the guy's father died... at the age of 75+... and he had been gay all his life. Now, one understands a certain feeling of unease and possibly even guilt about one's parents having had to lead a life of pretense, but where is the drama that has to explain so much melancholy? Both were melancholic from the beginning and fact is so much sadness ends up in utter dullness.