By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 5 cats
Director: Gael Morel
Starring: Beatrice Dalle | Didier Flamand | Dimitri Durdaine | Ludovic Berthillot | Malik Issolah | Stéphane Rideau
Original language title: Notre Paradis
Country: france
Year: 2012
Running time: 96
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1854568/
Thom says: “I had expected to become a huge fan of Director Morel after 3 DANCING SLAVES (2004) but an earlier & later offering (FULL SPEED (1996) & APRES LUI (2007)) proved more problematic. So this was a thrilling surprise as the film was fascinating, albeit repellent to some, I’m certain, as it portrays two men of a diabolic nature that seem to wreak havoc wherever they go on their desperate & twisted journey. Vassili (Rideau) is an aging prostitute who early on kills one of his tricks. He rescues a comatose beautiful, young man (Angelo) in the Bois de Boulogne and decides to take him under his wing by teaching
him the ins-and-outs of the hustler trade. Angelo, not the sharpest tool in the shed, becomes be-smitten with Vassili, dreadfully to the point that he has almost no reaction when he discovers Vassili’s sociopathic nature and indeed starts participating on the countrywide killing spree. They finally arrive at an old girlfriend’s house on the coast: Anna (the ever-fascinating Dalle) living with her son and new lover. The ending arrives with aplomb and is satisfying with cold and calculating verve. I do feel some remorse for enjoying this film so much considering the distasteful story but I was enthralled from beginning to end, much like I am with the work of Genet. 5 cats
“Seen at LGBT Frameline 36 Festival”