Film Reviews

The Singer

• Rating:
• Director: Xavier Giannoli
• Starring: Cecile De France
• Details: France / 112mins (PG).

"I'm not settling for guys like you." Aging singer Alain Moreau (Depardieu) is on the skids, forced to take gigs in casinos and dancehalls to make ends meet. It's at one of these gigs where he meets, and falls in love with, the ravishing Marion (De France). They end up in bed together but Marion immediately regrets it and does a runner. Alain, however, tracks her down to her real estate agency and pretends that he's looking to buy a house just to spend more time with her, but Marion is determined to keep him at arm's length. The Singer is the Benylin of movies - it's got that soothing sensation that tells you it's going to work. From the outset, and almost the first scene, writer/director Giannoli's patient storytelling and unobtrusive direction pulls the viewer slowly into his tale of sadness. Although there is a constant undercurrent of sorrow throughout, the sparkle of hope of finding happiness never dies, even though the characters themselves believe it hopeless. A fascinating character, Moreau is prone to self-pity but refuses to wallow, and while his forlorn face manages to crack a professional smile on stage, there's no doubt that regret, guilt and depression is never far away. Depardieu is perfect, giving Moreau everything he's got without overacting a single syllable. The Singer doesn't hammer home anything and Giannoli is asking the viewer to meet the film halfway: there are various aspects of the characters that beg to be fleshed out, but Giannoli doesn't give in - and The Singer is a stronger film for it. A soft, mature love story, this just might break your heart if you're not careful.

Review by Gavin Burke