“High Head”: finally a good film to open the festival – The Obs

The Cannes Film Festival opens with a sprain. Proof that he sprained? A little, indeed, in the sense that for years, is a stew which made the opening. Departure from tradition, therefore, for “High Head”, Emmanuelle Bercot, is a good film, presented out of competition.

A film, also, in the spirit of the selection that s announcement. French, like many others, such as the five entered in competition. Directed by a woman who is also an actress (Emmanuelle Bercot is the interpreter of Maïwenn film, “My King,” that we will see Sunday), like those of Valérie Donzelli (“Marguerite and Julien”, in competition) or Natalie Portman (“A tale of love and darkness”, out of competition) in particular. A film whose star, now one of the few to deserve that name, illuminate the red carpet: hard to imagine classier than Catherine Deneuve. Head high, therefore, as the young character in the film.

infernal circle

Malony was seven years old when for the first time, he entered the office of a juvenile judge, with his mother and his little brother. Ten years later, the judge and he never stayed long time without meeting. Child “problem”, Malony became a teenager “problem”, Emeritus car thief who laughs when asked if he has his driver’s license.

impulsive, violent, irreducible, it is reminiscent of François “Naked Childhood”, except that it was he, a real mother, and finally a mother organic. Francis of Pialat film went from home in foster care family, goes Malony institution in the home, accompanied by an educator in troubled past (Benoît Magimel, very good), guided by the judge (Catherine Deneuve), love soon the daughter of one of his teachers.

The first love scene between Malony and Tess, between Rod and Diane Paradot Rouxel, is beautiful, seeing the boy discover tenderness , open to the sweetness and without saying anything, be surprised. “High Head” can be seen, however, as the story of a kid who gradually comes to accept being touched and who ends up taking the hands that are stretched him, that of judge First, this judge to whom he had offered his first gift, a pebble.

Admirable Catherine Deneuve

In the role of the judge and in a completely different register than the film Previous Emmanuelle Bercot, “She goes,” Catherine Deneuve is great against the young Rod Paradot, true revelation. Any retainers, often immobile, actress control his game beautifully, leaving it flush with emotion soon befallen mask. The control of which it is shown in contrast to the game Sara Forestier, the very difficult role of the mother naturally leads to surexpressivité.

It is especially Emmanuelle Bercot damage has not been suspicious enough of repetitive situations, because of a similar weariness discouragement which seizes adults confronted with unexpected bursts of Malony and predictable – all of which would have justified pruning. In short, a beautiful film a little too long, like a final plan, the banality and emptiness make the incomprehensible term

But regardless of these reserves. The Festival s’ found a good movie to open the ball. That is a precedent which we hope will become part jurisprudence. Knowing that, the opening or not, it is infinitely more difficult to spot a real good movie to find a real stinker.

Pascal Mérigeau

“High Head”, Emmanuelle Bercot French comedy, starring Catherine Deneuve, Benoît Magimel, Sara Forestier, Rod Paradot (1:59). In Cannes, and in theaters.