Fascinating debut of bold new filmmaker Géla Babluani is a provocative, concept-driven idea, dealt frightening precision and tension, but falters heavily with introducing and concluding the grim scenario. If you do not have any knowledge of what this situation deals with, please do not seek out any plot details, as it will only make the journey the main character (younger brother George Babluani) undergoes all the more amazing. Rest assured that it is not very pretty with soft intent, but has the potential to be extremely gripping with it's loud concepts.
It still remains clear that the film relies too heavily on it's uncompromising centerpiece while negating many other aspects to distinguish itself as total accomplishment. While oozing a little too much self-conscious cool, the acceptable but never remarkable acting does not take hold until the contrived and trivial setup plays itself out. It is only when Babluani's brutally simple, starkly poetic themes presents itself during the brief film's midsection that the justification behind winning an illustrious grand jury prize at Sundance begins to make sense.
Here, this young director hits a gallant stride, creating some of the most uniquely tense and introspective action sequencing in a while. It is a breath of fresh, nihilistic air, as compelling in metaphor for artsy intellectuals as it is engaging in literal form for adventurous action fans. Unfortunately, intense effort afforded the brilliant execution of these sequences vastly undermines the thinly constructed story that was supposed to give this more weight, ultimately proving distracting in an otherwise riveting middle.
It still remains clear that the film relies too heavily on it's uncompromising centerpiece while negating many other aspects to distinguish itself as total accomplishment. While oozing a little too much self-conscious cool, the acceptable but never remarkable acting does not take hold until the contrived and trivial setup plays itself out. It is only when Babluani's brutally simple, starkly poetic themes presents itself during the brief film's midsection that the justification behind winning an illustrious grand jury prize at Sundance begins to make sense.
Here, this young director hits a gallant stride, creating some of the most uniquely tense and introspective action sequencing in a while. It is a breath of fresh, nihilistic air, as compelling in metaphor for artsy intellectuals as it is engaging in literal form for adventurous action fans. Unfortunately, intense effort afforded the brilliant execution of these sequences vastly undermines the thinly constructed story that was supposed to give this more weight, ultimately proving distracting in an otherwise riveting middle.