Cafe de Flore Review

Posted 12 years ago by myetvmedia

8/10

Jean-Marc Vallée (Young Victoria, C.R.A.Z.Y.) wrote and directs this beautiful, suspenseful, complicated love story that is intricately woven together between two worlds by music. Mystic forces; destiny, fate, love and loss weave the characters in ‘Café de Flore’ together in an intricate manner that defies time and space. Human emotions are not fully expressed without the element of sexuality and Vallée brings the power of the sexual dimension of his characters fully on screen.

The film stars Vanessa Paradis (Jaqueline) who is the mother of Laurent a young, Down’s Syndrome boy whom she adores and lives for. He is the centre of her universe. He loves the jazz album ‘Café de Flore’ and insists on listening to it constantly. They live in Paris, France and it is the year 1969. Is there room in Jacqueline’s world for anyone else to love Laurent? Will the attentions of another young girl with Down’s Syndrome suddenly open a crack in the cocoon Jacqueline has spun?

A world away – Montreal, Canada, present day, is another woman Carole (Hélene Florent) who is the ex wife of Antoine (Kevin Parent) and mother of their two girls. Carole secretly believes that Antoine will come back to her despite the fact that he is living with another woman Rose (Evelyne Brochu) whom he is passionate about. The eldest daughter dreams of a reunion as well and insists on playing her parents love anthem at every opportunity.

Antoine is a successful DJ and music is at the core of his world. Music is the initial connection between the two worlds in Café de Flore but as the story unfolds deeper connections start to emerge that raise questions about what destiny, love and loss and the dimensions of space and time when it comes to life and love really mean.

This film is on the top of Canada’s Top Ten Feature Films this year. It premiered at the Venice International Film Fest and then went on to TIFF. It is an unusual film; powerful, engaging and in some ways shocking. ‘Café de Flore’ has Oscar potential as best Foreign Film and is truly worth seeing.

Official Trailer

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