Summary
Two out of work actors, Ange and Concepción, meet up during the making of a seedy
television commercial. Having shared magic mushrooms together, they fall in love.
Ange later auditions for the part of a killer in a film but, when he is turned down for
the part, he suffers a psychological collapse. Having acquired a gun, he decides
to play out the role of the killer for real...
Review
Hors jeu is the third film from Tunisian born director Kadim Dridi. It lacks
the originality and weight of his earlier successes, Pigalle and Bye bye
and is generally a lacklustre and lumbering affair.
Despite some rather disappointing
attempts at visual wizardry (most noticeably the half-hearted drugs trip), this is a surprisingly
conventional film which should have gone much further in pushing the boundaries of originality.
The second half of the film in which Ange takes hostages at a dinner party attended by
some well-known actors is poorly realised and lacks both humour and menace. As a
result, the impact of the ending fails to achieve its full tragic potential.
What brings the film
to life are the excellent performances from its two lead actors. Philippe Ambrosini is
both sympathetic and disturbing as the traumatised Ange, offering a performance very reminiscent
of the great Patrick Dewaere. However, even he is outshone by the comparatively
unknown Rossy de Palma, who plays Ange’s girlfriend, Concepción.
De Palma’s presence dominates
the film and even when she is in the company of such former stars as Miou-Miou and Patrick
Bruel, she has no difficulty hogging the limelight. Her unconventional gawkish appearance
makes her an unusual female lead, but her charisma and obvious inexperience make her perfect
for the part she plays in this film.
© James Travers 2001
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