Paul Dedalus is at a crossroads in his life. He has to make several decisions; should he complete his doctorate, does he want to become a full professor, does he really love his long-standing girlfriend, or should he re-start with one of his other lovers?
Acting
Amalric's nervous energy carries three hours of navel-gazing.
Writing
Dialogue so dense it needs footnotes.
Direction
Desplechin's restless camera refuses to let scenes settle.
Director
Arnaud Desplechin
Mathieu Amalric
Paul Dédalus
Emmanuelle Devos
Esther
Emmanuel Salinger
Nathan
Marianne Denicourt
Sylvia
Thibault de Montalembert
Bob
Chiara Mastroianni
Patricia
Denis Podalydès
Jean-Jacques
Jeanne Balibar
Valérie
Hélène Lapiower
Le Mérou
Michel Vuillermoz
Frédéric Rabier
Roland Amstutz
Chernov
Marion Cotillard
Student
Solenn Jarniou
Pascale
Philippe Duclos
Spiritual Accompanist
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Desplechin loosely based Paul on himself and cast his own sister (Chiara Mastroianni) as one of the lovers, adding uncomfortable autobiographical texture.
This film basically invented the 'sad French man in turtleneck' genre that haunted indie cinema for decades. You're welcome/watching a war crime.
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