By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Sarah Suco
Starring: Camille Cottin | Céleste Brunnquell | Daniel Martin | Éric Caravaca | Jean-Pierre Darroussin | Laurence Roy | Spencer Bogaert
Original language title: Les éblouis
Country: france
Year: 2021
Running time: 99
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9170086/reference
Michael says: “Belmost World Film Festival had a really strong line-up of international films this year, screening each one virtually for a week through April and into May. I caught THE DAZZLED, French actress Sarah Suco directed this semi-autobiographical film about a family whose lives are dramatically altered when they caught up in a Catholic community that resembles a cult. Camille is a twelve-year-old budding gymnast who is taking classes to learn acrobatics. She’s got friends, wears trendy clothes, and there’s even a boy in her clown class that she might like. She’s also got two younger brothers, and a newborn baby sister, and parents who have recently rediscovered the church, mainly through the social justice angle, but her Mom maybe looking for the spiritual a little more earnestly.
“The family eventually moves into the religious community along with many other families, run by the subtly creepy man known only as The Shepherd (he has the community baa like sheep repeatedly until he enters the room). At first it’s all social good, and community, and playing dodge ball in the courtyard… the family seems happy. But Camille was against it form the start, especially when she performs an act she’d been working on at clown school that causes The Shepherd to inform her that she has to stop taking those classes and that use of her body disgraces God. From here it’s all downhill for Camille and her siblings, as her parents grow more and more devout and hard-lined, even coming to believe a false story about Camille’s grandfather in order to keep them away when they show concern. Meanwhile, Camille’s younger brothers suffer as well, one trying to run away and being locked away for a time in an isolated room, and the other ceasing to speak. As things grow more desperate, Camille fears for her family, and begins to run afoul of the Shepherd and his teachings more and more.
“Sadly the film introduces what I feel is an unnecessary twist toward the end, perhaps to amp up the drama, or maybe it truly happened, but it’s introduce rather clumsily and provides a swift wrap-up to the story. Other than that, Suco has created a riveting and tense film with stunning performances, led by Céleste Brunnquell’s Camille. The actress portrays the conflicting tug of war between family and religion remarkably well. It’s painful to watch her submit to various indignities for the sake of her family, but it’s not unbelievable. Camille’s parents, played by Éric Caravaca (CHICKEN WITH PLUMS) and Christine Lourmel’s (‘Call My Agent,’ ‘Killing Eve’) are excellent too, their complete acceptance of the Community of the Dove may make them seem crazy, but even at their most disappointing, they never seem like caricatures. It’s a bold debut from Suco, and hopefully she can follow-up as strongly with a story that doesn’t come from her own experience. 4 cats“