Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance WriterLE POULPE (The Squid) is a witty detective caper which takes the audience for a quick spin in crime solving. The movie is a part of the Francophone Film Festival 2004 which will be staged at the Palace Cineplex, Sovereign Centre, starting on November 11.
Le Poulpe, directed by Guillaume Nicloux, who also co-writes with Jean-Bernard Pouy, begins simply enough. After being thwarted in an old investigation, Gabriel (alias The Squid) is looking for a vacation. As such he gladly goes with his girlfriend Cheryl to her home town of Morsang where she learns that her grandparents' grave has been desecrated. What should have been a mini-vacation, however, soon turns into another major investigation which weaves in political intrigue, sex and the world of big business. The movie's strongest point, however, are the quirky characters who populate it. Jean-Pierre Darroussin plays Gabriel, who is differentiated for more than his taste in shoes. Clotilde Courau plays Cheryl, and as much attention is paid to Gabriel's shoes as is paid to her breasts, which are often the starting point of several shots.
The two characters contrast beautifully with Cheryl's bubbly sexuality opposed to Gabriel's reticence. Interestingly, though much is made of her sex appeal, Cheryl quickly shows herself to be far more than a pretty face, becoming an important part of solving the crime. Gabriel, on the other hand, is quite engaging because he has the questionable morality of Mel Gibson in Payback. Though he is not a stereotype, he has the wit and reserved aggression that are traditionally expected of private detectives.
WELL CRAFTED
The supporting characters are also quite engaging, with almost none of the characters being worth dismissing during their time on stage. The mystery in The Squid is well crafted as scenes which had appeared incidental soon come back to be important bits of clues. As such, the story easily keeps one on one's toes. This is aided by the camera work which is very intent on detail. Many of the shots begin as extreme close-ups giving a very intimate feel to the movie. This kind of camera work also allows for some over exposure of Cheryl's breasts.
The twists and turns in the story are more than enough to keep any mystery lover guessing and engaged, especially as the suspense is sustained right to the end. Additionally, the movie has its fair share of action sequences, though it does not dwell on violence to help keep the pace up.
Daroussin will be featured in two additional films in the festival, Le Couer des Hommes and Ville est Tranquille. Le Poulpe is one of eight whodunit films which are a part of this year's film festival. It will be shown November 14 at 8 p.m.
