Film & TV

French Film Festival Review: Blind Date

Blind Date is a new take on the conventional blind date film. Instead of the couple not seeing each other beforehand, this couple do not see each other at all!

(The trailer above does not have subtitles, however this film will screen with English subtitles during the Festival)

Blind Date or Un peu, beaucoup, aveuglément! is a new take on the conventional blind date film. Instead of the couple not seeing each other until the date, this couple do not see each other at all! Their relationship develops behind a wall.

Machin (Clovis Cornillac) is an asocial puzzles inventor who takes pleasure in scaring away all the tenants living behind the wall of his apartment. A new tenant moves in (Melanie Bernier). She is an accomplished pianist who cannot live without music. The inventor tries everything to make her leave. Eventually they become used to each other’s company and communicate through the famous wall, very badly soundproofed.

Against all odds, an odd relationship develops. They both lie about their physical appearance thinking they will never meet. She mistakes an Italian she meets for her neighbour. This creates tension with Machin. It seems that the relationship is at an end until her piano audition. Machin, still unseen, becomes her muse and helps her win.

What happens when she gets back to the apartment will change their lives forever….

This is a clever, beautifully acted and directed film. Melanie Bernier delivers a faultless performance. She is fragile yet driven, career driven and lonely, in need of some excitement in her life.

Her development throughout the film is totally realistic and her piano playing amazingly believable. I enjoyed her “transformation” while playing Chopin. It was a tongue-in-cheek send up of all reserved girls who suddenly find their inner wild child.

Clovis Cornillac is perfect as Machin. He is bearded, brooding and almost agoraphobic (unable to leave the house) He is Bernier’s natural foil. His interactions with his best friend, Artus (Philippe Duquesne), create a lot of the film’s comedy. Like Bernier’s character, he also has a journey to go through before he can become a complete person.

The direction (also by Clovis Cornillac) has a refreshingly light touch, so necessary in romantic comedy. The characters are well-honed and the script (also co-written by Cornillac) is delicate and has a natural touch.

An enjoyable film that will leave you with that feeling of satisfaction that only comes from a well-crafted movie.

Reviewed by Barry Hill
Twitter: @kinesguy

Rating out of 10:  10

Blind Date will screen on 2, 3, 7 & 11 April 2016 for Alliance Française French Film Festival, which runs 31 March – 24 April 2016 exclusively at the Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas.

 

More News

To Top