Two relatives. Four friends. All neighbors in Paris in a charming, convoluted tale beautifully and mysteriously directed by Claire Denis, who shares the screenplay credit with Jean-Pol Fargeau. Agnes Godard's cinematography makes the strange tale more of a visual treat.
Lionel (Alex Descas), an African-born driver of a commuter train (think Metro in St. Louis) and his 20-ish daughter, Josephine (Mati Diop), a college student, live together. Gabrielle (Nicole Dogue), a chain-smoking taxi driver, lives next door but spends much time with her neighbors. Noe (Gregoire Colin), a handsome, roguish bachelor, is the other neighbor, looks wistfully at Josephine, travels a lot, is saddened by the recent deaths of his parents and burdened by the presence of an overweight cat.
Life is quiet in this lower-middle class neighborhood. Josephine argues about social justice in classes. Lionel and his fellow drivers have a retirement party for Rene (Julieth Mars Toussaint) and leads a drinking game from which the film gets its title; he has an amazing capacity for alcohol, but claims he's waiting for an important-enough event to hit the goal.
Denis watches through Godard's camera. Josephine, a very beautiful young woman, has several suitors, but seems unimpressed by all of them. The group of four plan to attend a concert, traveling in Gabrielle's taxi, but car trouble and rain interrupt their plans. Life, according to Denis, is a simple affair made complex by too much conversation. People do things. She observes in a non-judgmental manner, although the makes a social statement about French life. All the characters are French and live in Paris, but most are people of color, not uncommon in that country. How long will it be before an American director can get the financing to make a similar statement about our changing face?
Denis has made a thought-provoking film, especially for people who like to sit quietly, wherever they are,and observe the actions of others.
Opens today at the Tivoli.