(aka "Olga's Chignon" )
directed
by Jérôme Bonnell
France 2002
If “Le Chignon d’Olga” had been an American film, it would
have been something in line with “American Pie”, “Porky” or any other teen
comedy, as the core story is about a teenager, who falls in love with the image
of an adult woman he sees thru a window, becomes obsessed by her image and
overlooks that true love is right under his nose. There is nothing original
about the story of “Le Chignon d’Olga”, it has been told time before and again.
However in the hands of debutant Jérôme Bonnell, the story is told with so much
care and feeling, that it almost seems to be original. Drawing from his own
personal experiences as a teenager, Bonnell portraits how hard it is to come to
terms with ones feelings, not only by the central character of Julian and his
fixation of Olga (and her hair knot), but also by his sister and her attraction
to another girl, and by their father, a widower who is tempted by his best
friends wife.
It is the portrait of this antagonism between personal identity (in terms of
finding an identity) and sexual temptation, that has cause critics to compare
Bonnell with Eric Rohmer. Rightfully so, as Bonnell not only, in this film,
shares Rohmer’s motif, but also directs with the same ease as Rohmer, which is
very visible in scenes with multiple dialogue. One could argue that Bonnell
simply copies Rohmer, but the direction is too reassured and confident.
As impressive a debut film “Le Chignon d’Olga” is, it is not a film that makes
an impact. It is light as a soufflé and as a dream, it drifts away silent. Yet,
it is a delight to watch a film, which not only deals with being teenager in a
normal manner, far from the rebelling “kids” – far from the horny “brats”, but
also allows them to be humans.
out of
Theatrical Release: August 28, 2002 (France)
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DVD Review: Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL
DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution |
Artificial Eye Region 2 - PAL |
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Runtime | 1:32:05 (4% PAL speedup) | |
Video |
1.64 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Audio | 2.0 Dolby Digital French | |
Subtitles | English, None (16x9 friendly) | |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Artificial Eye Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 12 |
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Comments |
The film is curious enough
running 4% slower than listed running time of 96 minutes, which suggest PAL
speed up. Why I can’t say. While the image is anamorphic 1.63, it isn’t up
to par for the standard of a new film. Colours are a bit faded. The interview with Bonnell very much seems like a chance for him to get a lot of his heart, but he chooses to speak English, instead of French, which in my opinion makes him express himself to a lesser degree than if he had spoken in native tongue. It is still a nice interview, but it reveals nothing much. |
Recommended Reading in French Cinema (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
The Films in My Life |
French Cinema: A Student's Guide by Philip Powrie, Keith Reader |
Agnes Varda by Alison Smith | Godard on Godard : Critical Writings by Jean-Luc Godard | Notes on the Cinematographer by Robert Bresson |
Robert Bresson (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs, No.
2) by James Quandt |
The Art of Cinema by Jean Cocteau |
French New Wave
by Jean Douchet, Robert Bonnono, Cedric Anger, Robert Bononno |
French Cinema: From Its Beginnings to the Present by Remi Fournier Lanzoni |
Truffaut: A Biography by Antoine do Baecque and Serge Toubiana |
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