The eastern promises

BabelParis — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:31:00 +01:00

London. After An History of Violence that was set in a typical middle-sized American town, David Cronenberg goes a little further into violence by chosing the City as a playground.

A mid-wife gives birth to a baby, whose mother, a Russian prostitute, dies abruptly. The mid-wife discovers her diary, from which she tries to investigate further on what happenned. Her quest will lead her into the world of the Russian mafia in London.

The Promises of Shadows takes us in a violent universe that seems very realistic, with a backdrop of prostitution, endless revenges, set among other places in a high-end luxurious Russian restaurant lacking a facade.

Astonnishly acted out by its cast, the synopsis introduces us to the mafia in all her aspects, its violence, code of honnor and initiatory rituals...On the top of that, a crusty actors' duo: Vincent Castel plays the son of the head of the gang, machiavelian and alchoholic whereas Viggo Mortensen is excellent in his interpretation of a cold, dark but also likeable man.

Very well done, this thriler has a couple of violent scenes that may choc the most sensitive members of the audience, but it is no excuse to deprive yourself of a movie that live up to all its promise.

Guillaume de Pauw / Translation : Juliette Abbesse

This is England

BabelParis — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 10:46:00 +01:00

England, 1983, Shaun is twelve; he has just lost his father and feels rejected by his schoolmates. By chance, he will meet a group of skinheads who will quickly adopt him and become a second family.

Shane Meadows, the film-maker, brings us to discover the skinhead movement without taking side, just like in a documentary. It’s the opportunity for the public to know a little bit more about this movement that was borne in England before extending itself to Europe and the rest of the world.

The movie takes us in the England of Thatcher. First, we meet a rather happy and human group, different from the stupid and naughty skin cliché that we would have expected. Let’s take, for example, these moments when they meet in a café that looks so British to have a traditional breakfast, or when they simply share a cup of tea …

Then, things get more complicated when the head of the band gets out from jail. More involved in politics and far more radicalised than the rest of the group, he cherishes Pakibashing, which makes him the living embodiment of the far Right.

Their British style (Ben Sherman square jackets, strappy Levi’s, Doc Martens…), common details (having a fatty in the group…) and the natural acting really drag the spectator in their world.

This is England stresses the contradictions underlying this movement when, for example, showing the different nuances of radicalism and political involvements, or when recalling the linkage with reggae, where the skin takes its roots. But there is also the fact that its followers are not necessarily white.

The movie also invites us to think about the frustrations and humiliations that raise the need for belonging to a group, and carry this clan concept that would help an individual to affirm himself. This happens in a time when extremism takes new shapes but is still growing from common grounds (poverty, humiliation…).

This is England was honoured by many rewards. Behind drawing the picture of a movement, and just like the recent Very British gangster and other Control do, Shane Meadows’ talent is to drag us in this English society, so typical and so positive for the cinema.

Guillaume De Pauw / Translation Sophie Helbert

La Parisienne of Cafébabel.com - Cinema

The eastern promises

This is England