All The Gods In The Sky
Dir. Quarxx / Dur. 98 min
In A Nutshell:- Simon cares for his sister Estelle, left disabled following a childhood game gone wrong, but is there hope of otherworldly salvation from their situation?
The Good:- It’s a challenging film, particularly in the depiction of the relationship between Simon and his sister Estelle. Another first time director although this one is an expansion of a short film he previously made with the same key cast members. Like Duplicate (but in a tonally very different way), it’s a compelling and assured debut film with some intriguing imagery and moments or surreal humor balancing out the darker scenes within (some of which wouldn't be out of place within the confines of a horror film). The main duo of Jean-Luc Couchard and Mélanie Gaydos are both extremely compelling as Simon and Estelle; Gaydos in particular in what is a physically and mentally tough role to play.
The Bad:- The plotline with the small girl who befriends Estelle felt a little to me like it didn’t really achieve a full resolution and meandered to a halt as the final act kicked in.
The Verdict:- This was another wildcard film for me - I didn't know much about it and took a punt. I’m certainly glad that I did as it was a film with a strong directorial voice and a compelling if difficult watch in places.
Festival Tidbit:- Jean-Luc Couchard is a famous comedian/comedic actor in his native Belgium and is very much playing against type here, something that the director Quarxx (yes, just the one name like Cher) lamented is unfortunately lost on non-Gallic audiences.
Next Time:- We’ve reached the final film in the festival experience and it feels like it’s a fitting one to cap off the festival experience.
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