Reviews of Recent Independent, Foreign, & Documentary Films in Theaters and DVD/Home Video
Directed by: Philippe Muyl. Produced by: Patrick Godeau. Written by: Philippe Muyl. Director of Photography: Nicolas Herdt. Edited by: Mireille Leroy. Music by: Nicolas Errèra. Released by: First Run Features. Country of Origin: France. 80 min. Not Rated (mostly likely G). With: Michel Serrault & Claire Bouanich.
The thumping noise from his new upstairs neighbor keeps Julien (Michel
Serrualt)
awake at night. Above, Elsa (Claire Bouanich), a diminutive looking Pippi Longstocking, is dribbling
her
basketball. One afternoon, he notices her alone at a cafe waiting for her
mother to
walk her home after school. He allows her wait in his apartment, but
forbids
her
from opening a certain door. When his back is turned, she not opens the
door
but
leaves it open, letting out a colorful assortment of butterflies. He
angrily
orders her
out of his home. Understandably, he's none to please to discover her
in his
car when he's off to the country for several days to find the elusive and
seasonal
butterfly, the Isabelle. Her often-absent mother hasn't returned home, and
Elsa
pleads with Julien to take her with him. Improbably he does. Elsa's
character is
one of the most accurate portrayals of an eight year old you'll see:
determined to
have her way, even a brat at times; but willing to follow orders;
lonely; and
manipulative. She tries calling the elderly widower grandpa, which he'll
have
none of, and loses the microchip for his cell phone,
making
it
useless and them more isolated. But slowly and surely, they are holding
hands in
the beautiful mountain scenery. "It looks like a calendar," Elsa remarks.
And during
their search, he teaches her such lessons as, "When love demands proof,
there's no trust. Without trust, there's no love." Their metamorphosing
friendship will be of
mild interest to adults and children, because of the
lack of suspense or humor. Although well acted with a strong sense of
naturalism, the film is as light and ephemeral as the Isabelle itself. Kent Turner
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