23/13
After years apart, the lovers find that every road they take leads them back together
Clotaire, a local rebellious teenager, falls in love with his schoolmate Jackie, but gang violence leads him down a darker, more destructive path. Malik Frikah, who plays 17-year-old Clotaire in this film, was a world champion breakdancer when he was 10. One of the characters wears a Rolex Daytona Ceramic from the 1990s, but the watch wasn’t released until 2016.
Mes MainsMusic by Gilbert Bécaud Lyrics by Pierre Delanoë
I was really looking forward to seeing this film directed by Gilles Lellouch and starring Adele Exarchopoulos and Francois Civil, who I really appreciated. All the ingredients are there to make a French Bockbuster, but they were overlooked. The first part is too long to set the scene for their young lives and their love.
Because I think that, although too long, it was good
After a while, we wonder if we entered the wrong screening room. Also, we started to feel frustrated that we didn’t see Adele and Francois after an hour. If this long first part was intended, the film should have had 2 editions.
I found the script adaptation rather weak
The second part of their adult life is not credible in many ways and is not exciting enough. Apart from that, I didn’t feel any connection with this love story of reunion. As for the ending, it was too easy.
It’s a shame because I think we missed the opportunity to make a great film here
Congratulations to Mallory Wanecque as Jackie and Malik Frikah as Clotaire Young, who give excellent performances.