Le Pere Des Mes Enfants (The Father Of My Children)

Another look at Mia Hanen-Love's recent piece.
Last time out we found it unbalanced, but this may have been a little unfair. The film is almost deliberately unbalanced, the 'event' at the centre destroying the centrifugal force of the film and instead turn it into a game of empty rooms, of waiting, of a lack of a central drive. This is conveyed rather well.
The start, with the repeated and repeated and repeated shots of people walking past the camera, the camaera looking on plaintatively, is again impressive. As is the fact that the life depicted is rather sweet, when on paper it should be furiously annoying.
We really enjoyed it a lot more this time, it is a relaxed, at times joyful, but always confused, study of a certain kind of life. Everything and the kitchen sink is chucked in, there wasn't a lot of editing here, and about a hundred different plot strands jump up. These are always carried through with conviction though, only a couple of times misstepping slightly, so the full does justify its run time, even if you certainly feel you've been watching it for a good time.
Better than on last viewing, certainly an interesting and worthwhile piece of recent cinema.