First of all this film is what it is in terms of being a slower-paced, somewhat overacted french drama. Some people like this stuff, some definitely do NOT, and others can appreciate it for what it is. I probably fall into the last category and have enjoyed several kind of peculiar foreign films (How Much Do You Love Me? and Irreversible for a couple amazing Belucci performances and things like Dogtooth as well for *very* off-kilter plot and themes) but this one is definitely barely deserving of the 6-star average.
I felt like the whole time it was going to open up and really delve into whatever was being very very painstakingly teased about the first female lead character, Sophie Marceau's Jeanne, but while the acting and somewhat creepy SFX's held my attention for a good quarter of the movie, at about the 45 minute mark I could not stand the fact that so much drama was being expended over so little actual storytelling. Literally you see a mysterious girl (who looks very much like Belucci might have as a much younger girl... that's the only reason many are watching this movie after all --Monica B. that is-- so at least they acknowledge her early), Marceau's character losing and gaining some scars, becoming very frightened, letting her husband try to make her feel better with the male go-to of let's sex, and then her flipping out all over him..repeated a good 3 times before any getting any inkling of where the script is really moving towards. So for a good portion of this movie yeah you're going to have to appreciate the task of trying to keep your eyes off the landscape of France and the female leads long enough to read repetitive dialogue that really does nothing more than remind you you're being conned into watching this movie because of either: a) belucci b) crazy twists!! c) you like french, but aren't actually getting much back for buying into the premise. It wouldn't be so bad if the synopsis and even the poster didn't act like this was some high-octane, fast-burning mystery/thriller because for anyone thinking it's that, it really is just not at all what you're thinking.
I think people who have experienced something very moving in their life that has had longterm implications for them emotionally and psychologically or are just emotionally charged people in general (women especially I'd imagine) you might definitely enjoy the payoff and the exotic atmosphere that does exist in a pretty consistent state throughout. This is a non-spoiler write-up so discussing the plot's conclusion is no good but yeah the ending will definitely be feel-good for many in the way a thoughtful chick-flick or family film can be. But for more critical viewers who think of intriguing and puzzling stories coming from more well-known and reputable wheel-houses like David lynch or the Cohen brothers, this aspect at least of Don't Look Back falls very flat.
I felt like the whole time it was going to open up and really delve into whatever was being very very painstakingly teased about the first female lead character, Sophie Marceau's Jeanne, but while the acting and somewhat creepy SFX's held my attention for a good quarter of the movie, at about the 45 minute mark I could not stand the fact that so much drama was being expended over so little actual storytelling. Literally you see a mysterious girl (who looks very much like Belucci might have as a much younger girl... that's the only reason many are watching this movie after all --Monica B. that is-- so at least they acknowledge her early), Marceau's character losing and gaining some scars, becoming very frightened, letting her husband try to make her feel better with the male go-to of let's sex, and then her flipping out all over him..repeated a good 3 times before any getting any inkling of where the script is really moving towards. So for a good portion of this movie yeah you're going to have to appreciate the task of trying to keep your eyes off the landscape of France and the female leads long enough to read repetitive dialogue that really does nothing more than remind you you're being conned into watching this movie because of either: a) belucci b) crazy twists!! c) you like french, but aren't actually getting much back for buying into the premise. It wouldn't be so bad if the synopsis and even the poster didn't act like this was some high-octane, fast-burning mystery/thriller because for anyone thinking it's that, it really is just not at all what you're thinking.
I think people who have experienced something very moving in their life that has had longterm implications for them emotionally and psychologically or are just emotionally charged people in general (women especially I'd imagine) you might definitely enjoy the payoff and the exotic atmosphere that does exist in a pretty consistent state throughout. This is a non-spoiler write-up so discussing the plot's conclusion is no good but yeah the ending will definitely be feel-good for many in the way a thoughtful chick-flick or family film can be. But for more critical viewers who think of intriguing and puzzling stories coming from more well-known and reputable wheel-houses like David lynch or the Cohen brothers, this aspect at least of Don't Look Back falls very flat.