Liam delivers his next review of DVDs available from Island Libraries – rental just 98p per night. Ed
As the writer Theodore Roschak pointed out in his excellent book ‘Flicker’, every film has something in it that makes watching it an experience worthwhile, even if it was a two second cut of a leaf with water dripping on to it.
‘Le Serpent’ – a subtitled French film appearing at the Ventnor Library on DVD, is highly recommended to anyone who has the notion that French cinema is not so ‘bon’.
Rarely have I had the notion, instead I have always been surprised by being able to read and follow a film at the same time, while also drinking latte.
Refreshingly simple in its approach to telling the story of Vincent, a successful photographer whose moral detour from his family during work, becomes the entanglement of bitter revenge – a ride worthy of Hitchcock comparisons.
Eric Barbier has directed ‘Le Serpent’ with style and to his credit, a French thriller that is both intriguing and quickly descends faster and further inwards.
Similar in atmosphere to anything directed by Roman Polanski, ‘Le Serpent’ winds and twists and is well scripted and acted to become a marginally intense experience, that is similar to drinking too many lattes.
Personally speaking or writing, I have yet to experience a bad piece of French Cinema although perhaps it does exist, I simply have not seen it.
‘Le Serpent’ is another case of excellence that benefits both the audience and those that made it. Not an easy thing to achieve but well worth viewing.
