I have not seen a film this strong for some time. It is pure
brutal and beautiful. This film occupied my thoughts and my mind, until I went
to bed to sleep. I have missed watching films that make me feel this way, so
thank you Jacques Audiard (:
The film is about two people who are alienated from the
society, whether due to their physical or emotional problem that bonded them
together. Ali (Matthias Schoenaerts) is a macho man who moved in with his
sister and her husband’s house with his five year old boy Sam (Armand Verdure)
from Belgium. He used to do kickboxing but now he works as bouncer and as a security
guard. He has problems interacting with his son and women. He uses his physical
strength when he cannot cope and has one night stands with women.
Stéphanie (Marion Cotillard) is a killer whale trainer who
by an accident in the marine park becomes amputee. Her physical situation
alienates her from the society. Ali visits her after some time where he takes
her out beside the sea. He asks her if she wants to swim, she replies 'Do you
realize what you're saying?' Though she realises that she can still swim and
after that he keeps taking her to the sea. He helps her and she enjoys and
fells free again. In fact she starts to feel alive, and enjoys music and dance
where she has told him that she loves dancing and making guys watch her and
enjoys turning them on.
Ali starts fighting illegally and making money out of it
meanwhile he puts camera with his friend Martial (Bouli Lanners) inside shops
to peek on the workers. Stéphanie joins them in his fight but watches them in
the car. Though at one point when Ali was beaten badly, she steps out of the
car and goes beside them which gives strength to him and wins the match. They
make a weird couple where they have sex as what they call -‘OP’ or
‘operational’ though it makes sense as they company each other from their
alienated world.
The actors are splendid, the visual effects and music are
amazing and the cinematography (cinematographer Stéphane Fontaine) is purely
beautiful in such scenes when Stéphanie interacts with a killer whale under the
water tank.
