Directed by:
Caroline BottaroCinematography:
Jean-Claude LarrieuCast:
Sandrine Bonnaire, Kevin Kline, Valérie Lagrange, Francis Renaud, Alice Pol, Élisabeth Vitali, Jennifer Beals, Dominic Gould, Didier Ferrari (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Hélène works as a hotel maid in a small Corsican village. Her humdrum routine is interrupted one day when she notices a young couple playing chess. Fascinated by the game and eager to learn it, Hélène seeks the help of Mister Kröger (Kevin Klein), a doctor in the village who reluctantly agrees to be her mentor. Under his guidance, she prepares for a tournament -- but she is not prepared for the passion she will discover and the profound effect it will have on her life. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (2)
It’s too bad that the director pushes the pleasantly intimate and closed story to the level of fateful romance with all of the uncontrollable symbols and exaggerated impromptus that are extraneously forced into the storytelling. I get that there are efforts here to achieve a heartfelt "feminine" style, but Bottero has to be forced into it. That’s not good. It could have been a really intimate and theatrically sophisticated concert, but the way it is now, every emotional moment is spoiled by a wanted postscript, which is supposed to make the mundane unusual. But unfortunately, nothing like that is appropriate.
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A European film from an area you rarely find access to – Corsica. That’s why it interested me so much. However, essentially it’s a completely mediocre drama. Inconspicuous, quiet, sometimes boring, but it at least remains true to itself.
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