Simultaneously detective comedy, heist film, sentimental and family drama, the innocent, Louis Garrel’s fourth feature film as a filmmaker, is a real success. Inspired by a real episode in the life of his own mother, the director and actress Brigitte Sy, the one who grew up in a family of cinema also pays, by the tape, a vibrant tribute to the profession of actor.
It starts with a scene where we see actors rehearsing. We will quickly discover that the latter are, in fact, inmates who, within the framework of the prison environment, take part in play workshops led by Sylvie (Anouk Grinberg). This very young sexagenarian, captivated by the charm of one of them, whose prison sentence is coming to an end, will fall in love to the point of thinking about marriage even inside the prison walls, especially more than she is quite certain of the sincerity of the feelings that Michel (Roschdy Zem) feels towards her.
Of this story whose starting point is true (Brigitte Sy has already made a film of it – hands free – with, as alter ego, the late Ronit Elkabetz), Louis Garrel draws a story that is both touching and completely crazy. The latter slips himself – brilliantly – into the skin of Abel, this son who, from the moment he learns that his mother is in love with an inmate, doubts the true aims of the lucky chosen one. Fearing the worst, Abel will do everything to protect his mother from this man, whom he follows, hoping to catch him in the wrong.
PHOTO EMMANUELLE FIRMAN, PROVIDED BY MAISON 4:3
Louis Garrel plays the main role in the innocenta film for which he also wrote the script and directed.
Accumulating the clumsiness of someone who has never had experience of this kind of thing (which gives rise to some really very funny scenes), Abel is accompanied in his quest by his best friend Clémence (Noémie Merlant, whose performance won her the César for Best Supporting Actress). The two accomplices will also have something to eat since, in fact, Michel must discreetly participate in a robbery…
The magic of cinema
Louis Garrel, whose previous feature films were written either with Christophe Honoré (The two friends) or with his mentor Jean-Claude Carrière (The faithful man, The crusade), this time called on the novelist Tanguy Viel (Unsuspected). Crossed by elements of frank comedy, the screenplay, awarded a César, focuses first on the evolutionary look that Abel poses on Michel, but it also explores the nature of the unfailing feelings binding a mother to her son.
The too rare Anouk Grinberg, to whom the filmmakers are finally calling again (seen in Deceptionby Arnaud Desplechin, the actress is also The night of 12by Dominik Moll), hits the mark here in the role of a woman who perhaps gives herself one last chance at love.
Flamboyant and moving, it is to her that we also owe the tone of a film that honors the art of variety. On this level, fans of nostalgia radios will be pampered by a musical score making For pleasure (Herbert Leonard) and magic night (Catherine Lara), via Gérard Blanc (Another story) and popular Italian songs. Noémie Merlant also displays a consummate gift for comedy and the tandem she forms with Louis Garrel on screen works wonderfully.
Rediscovering a bit of the spirit of a cinema of the past (which the poster graphically evokes), the innocent is the result of a truly beautiful mix of genres from which no one could have predicted such a beautiful result. Call it movie magic.
Indoors
Comedy
the innocent
Louis Garrel
With Louis Garrel, Anouk Grinberg, Roschdy Zem
1 h 40