Film Reviews

Dans Paris

• Rating:
• Director: Christophe Honore.
• Starring: Romain Duris, Louis Garrel, Joanna Preiss, Guy Marchand.
• Details: France / 93mins (15).

** Preview ** Romain Duris is proving to be an eclectic actor. After his critically-acclaimed performance in The Beat My Heart Skipped, Duris has delved into romance with Russian Dolls, played a lost hippy in Exiles and delivers in upcoming farcical comedy Moliere. He holds centre stage in Dans Paris as Paul, a regular guy harshly dumped by his girlfriend Anna (Priess). Forlorn, Paul moves back to Paris and into his father's (Marchand) house where his younger brother Jonathan (Garrel) spends most of his time womanising. However, it becomes apparent that Jonathan's sleeping around covers up a deep mourning of the death of his sister and Paul slips further and further into depression. Dans Paris is a nod and a wink to French New Wave; director Honore obviously loves Truffaut and his influence comes shining through, even though there's a wealth of styles on show. Dumping the tough watch that was his previous outing Ma Mere, Honore injects some levity to lighten the downbeat proceedings.

Review by Gavin Burke