Something in the Air

The problem with autobiographical cinema is that it can be very self-indulgent or just downright dull depending on the life being portrayed. Olivier Assayas made "Apres Mai" in 2012, looking back to his student days in the Paris of 1971. To give the film its English title it was a time when there was "Something in the Air", revolution mostly. It was a time when France, indeed the world, was changing. Assayas himself went on to have a very successful and productive career in cinema but you would never guess it from this film in which he is a callow youth , (played by newcomer Clement Metayer), going through the motions most of us went through at the time without realising we only made a difference if we were part of a much larger picture. Autobiographical cinema is better when it makes that larger picture the centre of attention. Of course, maybe I'm just an old cynic who now finds that period of student revolution not so much 'something in the air' as something in the past. Fundamentally this is a film for Assayas acolytes and old hippies who want to relive their youth, very well done for what it is, but ultimately adding little to the Assayas canon.

An experimental coming of age drama that has a good story to tell, but lacks a narrative. Director Olivier Assayas undoubtedly has talent (Carlos), but this film is definitely a misstep in his career.

"Apres Mai", french for after may. Set after the May 68 riots and their immediate aftermath. Students keep protesting and then partying, sometimes they're complaining about how unjust everything is for them and other times they're in Italy getting high.

It starts out good with fast paced editing, a moving soundtrack, great cinematography and a couple of rebel students that made me feel like it was going to be something similar to "Carlos". The movie lost its direction after the first 30 minutes or so and wandered onto other less interesting themes like the hippie culture.

I'd recommend it to people who liked movies similar to "Not Fade Away", "The Dreamers", or "Summer Hours".

A miniature portrait of the student movement, that focuses around a group of few passionate youngsters.

They do not just want better rights and more acknowledgment; they are prepared to fight in order to get it. It feels the world is at a turning point and so are their lives. If they do not fight for a better world, then what is it all for?

The struggle begins full of zeal, passion and fervour. The time, being unforgiving to all, changes everything. The views of society change, ideals and lives. Through fighting, facing consequences and experimenting with free love and drugs our heroes find themselves facing new realities and challenges. The goal seem to have been achieved, what now? The existential question in everyone's minds.

Though low key, it has enough youthful energy that exhumes passion, inspiration that can stir the audience's thought process expecting from all of us to not lose sight of our ideals, the very thing that makes us human.

Gilles is an interesting character, a political activist studying to be an artist. But it's frustrating that beyond his political beliefs we get to know little about him. Conversations are short. What do any of the people feel? There are a lot of opinions and judgments made about society, authority, each other - usual for French films. But left me unsatisfied. Warning: Ironically, be prepared to meet many dissatisfied people, even majorly unhappy ones, during the course of this film. Wonderful evocation of times ('70s) and attention to detail though.

Something in the Air (French: Après mai) (2012)

Coming-of-age tale, Based on Assayas's life, Dream-like graceful camera, Gorgeous shots of Italy, The youthful zeal is catching.

French high school students Art, film, drugs, love, politics, Unfocused story, More a nostalgic film than One that can be loved by all.

Somonka is a form of poetry that is essentially two tanka poems, the second stanza a response to the first. Each stanza follows a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern. Traditionally, each is a love letter. This form usually demands two authors, but it is possible to have a poet take on two personas. My somonka will be a love/hate letter to a film?

#Somonka #PoemReview