L'AMOUR FOU

The best part of this disappointing mish-mash of a film is the opening sequence which is footage of Yves St Laurent announcing to the world that he is about to retire. In a highly dramatic speech that he stumbles through in which, amongst other things, he confesses to the demons (drink and drugs) he has battled with all his life, but also without even a hint of modesty, brags about his major impact on women’s lives.  It is shamefully emotional but is probably the only raw honest moment in this documentary.

Interviews with Pierre Berge, the late M. St Laurent’s life partner and the major driving force behind their colossal business, were spread generously throughout the film, but as he is such a guarded and intensely private person, he really gave little away of any substance about their life together.  And he added no insight at all about M. Laurent that wasn’t already public knowledge.  I have to say I admired the genuine affection and respect of which he spoke of M. St Laurent, and it was good to be reminded of his own political activates that included such crucial work for Gay Rights and also for people with Aids.

The archive footage of M. St Laurent was sparse and too highly edited that at best it could only hint at all  the genius designer that he was and all the grief and pain his fame  caused and troubled him so.

The main focus of the movie is the disposal and Sale of the vast collection of art and treasures that M. St Laurent and Pierre Berge gathered over their 50 years together.  Some were major masterpieces, and some were minor, and some were vanity trinkets, and others just excessive and ugly pieces that seemed like the spoils of unchecked taste.  The Sale was a major event in the Art World and attracted the highest echelons of international collectors and resulted in some $264 million. Yet somehow as filmmaker Pierre Thornton kept showing M. Berge reacting with unaffected glee every time another piece achieved a record price, I couldn’t help thinking of all those folks on TV’s 'Antique Road Show' when they discover what Aunties old vase is really worth!

L’Amour Fou : as a record of the Sale was boring and unnecessary. As a documentary about such a unique and enormous talent, it was a total disappointment.

Much better to watch 'Yves St Laurent: His Life & Times' (available at Netflix) it's a much superior film.

★★★★★

EVEN THE RAIN

There could be a two-fold irony about this movie, which is about a movie charting Christopher Columbus’s first explorations in South America where he notoriously exploited the native Indians at the time. The movie is being filmed in Bolivia because the cheapskate producer from Spain wants to use all the locals as extras cos they will work for practically nothing. (And then I am wondering as I leave the theatre if the producer making this movie about making the movie didn’t do the same!)

As the movie starts shooting the local townsfolk, led by Hatuey, an activist who is now also a star in the movie, get involved in a bitter dispute with the City Council as an American Company has bought the entire region’s water supply and not only must everyone now face an enormous price hike, but they are also banned from even collecting the rainwater.  This is actually based on a true incident that occurred as recently as 2000 and the civil unrest closed the entire city down, and in its retelling here it closes the movie down too, and puts both the local and Spanish crew and cast in grave danger.

The tensions continue to mount as the politically  correct Spanish Director starts to buckle under all the pressure and slowly reveals that the completion of his film is more important to him than anything or anybody, whilst the penny-pinching immoral Producer unexpected develops a compassionate side when he chooses to abandon his crew in order to help save a life.

The movie is an interesting take on two totally different episodes in Latin America history and I was fascinated to learn that the screenplay was written by Paul Laverty, who has written many of Ken Loach's highly political movies (inc. ‘Bread and Roses’, “The Wind That Shakes The Barley etc).  It’s directed by Iciar Bollain an award-winning Spanish actress and director, who is also Mr. Laverty’s life partner.

Gael Garcia Bernal was the headlining actor, but the star turn was from Juan Carlos Aduviri as the fiery activist Hautoy.  Add to the mix some stunning cinematography, and a brilliant haunting score.

Definitely worth a view.

★★★★★★★
Click for Trailer