Julio Cortazar wrote the story "Graffiti" on which this film is based. The story: The party in power has been struggling with rebels for years, but now has the upper hand. Individual liberties are suppressed, but young people like Theo go out at night to challenge the patrols. Theo's brother turns out to be a cadre of the regime who subjects Theo and Nora to torture.
The feel is that of Blow-Up or one of Joseph Losey's dark dramas from the Sixties. A scene from The Man Who Fell To Earth is referred to here. Aja isn't in the class of Antonioni or Losey, however. The picture feels low-budget, skimpy on details, and ready to rely on shock effects to hold our interest.
It's Marion Cotillard's moment right now; she's been in Big Fish and Jeux D'enfants. She's got the big dark eyes of Edwige Feuillère, it would be nice to see her in a story that makes some demands on her.
The feel is that of Blow-Up or one of Joseph Losey's dark dramas from the Sixties. A scene from The Man Who Fell To Earth is referred to here. Aja isn't in the class of Antonioni or Losey, however. The picture feels low-budget, skimpy on details, and ready to rely on shock effects to hold our interest.
It's Marion Cotillard's moment right now; she's been in Big Fish and Jeux D'enfants. She's got the big dark eyes of Edwige Feuillère, it would be nice to see her in a story that makes some demands on her.