MEKTOUB, MY LOVE: INTERMEZZO
Abdellatif Kechiche — France — 240 minutes
IN A NUTSHELL
Sequel to Mektoub My Love: Canto Uno, sees a bunch of young, vibrant friends philosophizing and exploring sexual desires. Set across the sun, sand and sea of Sete, the film portrays an energetic night life during one night in the 1990s . (words by Robin Write)
CRITICAL RESPONSE
“For all the energy and the flashy cutting and the music and the extreme camera angles, Intermezzo is more background mood music for particular tastes rather than essential cinema. In reality, the plot is doled out in the first 20 minutes and all the rest is sexy dancing.” — Fionnuala Halligan, Screen Daily
“Not that it is likely that many regular cinemagoers will ever see Intermezzo. Its predecessor wasn’t widely distributed and didn’t do well where it did get a release. So the odds of this finding many takers in the theatrical arena are slim even without considering its merits — or rather its conspicuous lack thereof.” — Boyd van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter
“Does the film objectify its women on screen? I would say so. It is, after all, shot though the eyes of its male-gazing director. However, Kechiche should not be forced to be objective with any of his movies. He sure as hell wasn’t objective with “Blue is the Warmest Color,” the Palme D’or-winning lesbian drama which featured graphic sex and felt, to my eyes at least, like the work of a male director.” — Jordan Ruimy, World of Reel
PRIZE PROSPECTS
Abdellatif Kechiche did not do himself any favours at the Cannes press conference, when asked about his fascination with female form as a male filmmaker. He appeared neither absorbed nor accountable. Before the conference even began, the Tunisian-French director was unprofessionally judging a journalist using his phone to take pictures. But his hot, young, fresh-faced cast absolutely loved working with him, they say.
Fresh from a rather uninspired premier at Cannes, the sequel to Mektoub My Love: Canto Uno, provided much intrigue on the subject of prolonged voyeurism. This is not winning any prizes. And if it does, expect a media storm. It’s certainly no Games of Love and Chance or Blue Is the Warmest Color – which of course won the Palme d’Or in 2013. (words by Robin Write)
