Read the full review and interview after the jump.
It’s not often that a film is able to pose a romantic scenario that feels genuine or realistic, opposed to the clichéd gooey sentiment that’s put forth by romantic comedies. Matters of the heart are rarely depicted as grey or undecided, usually black and white, with absolute clarity. Questions are mostly answered, the ending almost always a positive one. Perhaps the concept of genuine human connection is too undefinable, or poetic to frame within the circumstances of mainstream and stereotypical romance films. On this topic, Philippe Andre’s brand new short feature Delicate Gravity has a lot to say about romance and human connection, of which, nothing is obvious.
Paul (Yvan Attal) is a lonely, harrowed translator in his winter years who receives a missed call and a voice-mail from someone who mistakenly thinks Paul is her lover. She divulges that she feels distant and depressed, she even implies she may commit suicide. Paul contacts the staff at the hotel she’s staying at, and the local police, to no avail. Paul journeys to her hotel room to tell her she called the wrong man. Claire (Anne Parillaud) thanks Paul, and after some hesitation, invites him inside. The two talk and acquaint themselves with one another. They kiss and spend the night together. The morning after Claire receives a call from the man she was supposed to be meeting, agreeing to meet him downstairs in the lobby. Paul hears everything, not quite knowing whether to feel joy or desperation. They both leave the room, even sharing the same elevator down, as Claire reunites with her lover, Paul walks away with only a passing glance back to Claire.
Delicate Gravity is very much a film about connection and communication, or alternatively, loneliness and miscommunication. Paul is a translator, but in our brief time with the character, we learn that his only task is to translate the stories and tales of others, never getting a chance to live or tell his own. The theme is only enhanced by the use of phones and missed calls as the primary story mechanic, considering the two wouldn’t have met otherwise. There’s a fantastic and immediate chemistry between Yvan Attal and Anne Parillaud which makes the feature so engaging and compelling. A combination of their acting talents alongside Philippe Andre’s attentive directorial eye makes Delicate Gravity an incredibly absorbing ordeal.
A calling card of a great drama is whether the audience lingers over any unanswered questions. For as straightforward as Delicate Gravity is, there’s so much that isn’t said, and that’s the beauty of it. Is this a bitter, remorseful story of what could have been? Is it a tale of kindness, one stranger helping another in her time of need? It isn’t clear. It doesn’t need to be. Philippe focuses on the fleeting moment between the two, that’s the focus, not the immediate implications. The very fine, scarce touches of beautiful orchestral score help to enhance this idea.
Delicate Gravity is one of the most genuine, thoughtful dramas about human connection we’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing. It’s already highly decorated in awards and praise, but it only deserves more. Stay tuned for my interview with the man behind the film, as I have an in-depth discussion with Philippe Andre about his experience crafting Delicate Gravity.