A Rezo Films release of a Leo & Compagnie presentation, in association with France 3 Cinema and GMT Prods., with participation of Canal Plus, Natexis Banques Populaires Images, Images 2. Produced by Guy Marignane. Directed by Marie-France Pisier. Screenplay, Pisier, Pascal Bonitzer.
With: Berenice Bejo, Marie-France Pisier, Clement Van Den Bergh, Laurence Cote, Samuel Labarthe, Guillaume Depardieu, Melanie Bernier, Gladys Cohen, Rachida Brakni.
Cobbled together from autobiographical elements by actress Marie-France Pisier, "Like an Airplane" never gets off the ground -- but it crashes all the same. Story of two siblings whose widowed mother, Claire (Pisier), staged a fake vacation during her two months of secret convalescence from a double mastectomy, pic is scattered, strident and unflattering to nearly all concerned. Barely a line or gesture feels organic and unforced. How Pisier -- whose track record includes working for Truffaut, Rivette and Bunuel -- could have encouraged such clumsy perfs is a mystery.
Vivacious Lola (Berenice Bejo) studies for her doctorate while working for a Paris greenery firm. Her teen brother, Guillaume (Clement Van Den Bergh, from "Class Trip"), is falling for classmate Constance (Melanie Bernier), while Lola has a strange love/hate relationship with ex-mate Simon (Samuel Labarthe), a hotshot lawyer. Meanwhile, a successful novelist (Guillaume Depardieu) engages in artistic stalking. Claire has pathologically high hopes for Lola's big exam but is too eccentric to be helpful on the big day. Cancer, suicide and what constitutes true success are all meaty topics, but only Depardieu and Van Den Bergh escape pic's "Look Ma, I'm Acting!" aura.
Camera (color), Sabine Lancelin; editor, Catherine Quesemand; music, CharlElie Couture; art director, Brigitte Brassard; costume designer, Eve-Marie Arnault. Reviewed at Club de l'Etoile screening room, Paris, Jan. 15, 2001. Running time: 100 MIN.
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Date in print: Sun., Feb. 17, 2002