DAGUERROTYPE

WHAT IS IT?

Film Review by FIORE

What do you have when famous Japanese Horror Film Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, opts to make a film in France?  You have a meandering, plodding, watching paint dry tale, in search of a genre.  Is it a ghost story?  Is it a psychological thriller?  After 30 minutes of DAGUERROTYPE, it won’t matter.  You’ll just look for the exit door.

A successful screenwriter will capture the viewer’s attention within the first ten pages, or ten minutes of the film.  DAGUERROTYPE takes over 45 minutes before an inkling of the plot takes shape.  There are no interesting characters to hold attention and not enough conflict to merit continued viewing.

Jean, played by Tahar Rahim, manages to find a job working as an assistant for celebrated photographer Stephane, played by Olivier Gourmet.  This is a good thing, because Jean apparently has no skills, other than drinking beer with his unemployed mates.

It’s not long before Jean begins to fall for Stephane’s daughter, Marie, played by Constance Rousseau.  Their affair, however, is disrupted by Stephane’s obsessive work habits and his remorse over the recent death of his wife. 

To further complicate issues, a real estate mogul wants to buy Stephane’s house for an exorbitant amount of money.  Jean and Marie see this as a method of financing their love life together.

So, is DAGUERROTYPE a crime thriller, a ghost story, a Freudian study in psychosis?  The answer becomes moot when finally revealed, due to the tortuous unveiling of the plot.  A crime thriller without a crime; a ghost story without scares; and a mindless psychological thriller.

DAGUERROTYPE is only for die-hard Kurosawa fans.  It is available on VOD, and was an official selection for the Toronto International Film Festival.  If you desire to watch this film, I recommend you have a strong and tasty libation, with plenty of snacks.