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Ki lo sa?
1985 Drama / Comedy / Romance
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Credits
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Director: Robert Guédiguian
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Script: Robert Guédiguian
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Photo: Gilberto Azevedo
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Music: Alexandre Desplat
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Cast: Ariane Ascaride (Marie),
Pierre Banderet (Pierrot),
Jean-Pierre Darroussin (Dada),
Gérard Meylan (Gitan),
Alain Lenglet (L'amant de Marie)
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 90 min
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Summary
Dada, a solitary thirty-something, maintains the vast gardens of a once grand house in
Marselles. He recalls the happy childhood he spent in the gardens with the children
who lived in the area. Before separating, the childhood friends fixed a date in
the future when they would all return to the gardens. The date comes and only three
of Dada’s former friends honour the appointment. There is Marie, who regrets
having to exploit her boyfriend's generosity, selling the gifts he gives her for ready
cash. There is Gitan, an unemployed bachelor who finds it impossible to hold down
a job. And there is Pierre, a struggling writer with some talent but no luck.
At first the reunion is a happy one. But then, as they reflect on the emptiness
of their lives, the mood of the four friends turns increasingly sombre…
Review
In contrast to Robert Guédiguian's
later works, Ki
lo sa? is a surprisingly dark and mystical work, one in which existentialist concerns
are interwoven with black comedy and social realism. The director is better
known for portraying the sunnier side of life, showing us how ordinary people make the
best of their lot. But here we see four individuals who, when confronted with their
personal failings, decide that life is too painful to endure and so opt for the nearest
exit. Although the drama is played out with great poetry and insight, this
is an artificially bleak view of life, and certainly the film is less likable, less
coherent than Guédiguian’s subsequent films. That said, the exemplary
acting (notably from the brilliant Jean-Pierre Darroussin) and some truly evocative cinematography
make this a respectable, if not to say bizarre, entry in the distinctive Guédiguian
canon.
© James Travers 2004
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