Without a doubt, if given the choice between watching a good old Hollywood movie or an arty European film in French and without subtitles for extra aid, a classic monochrome would be my preference every time. However I also know never to pass up a freebie and as I was presented by my friend with a cinema ticket and invitation to watch “L’Hermine”, a french film written and directed by Christian Vincent (2015) which stars a French cast including; Robert Luchini (Michel Racine, Le Président) and Sidse Babett Knudsen (Ditte Lorensen-Conteret) in the lead roles, off we went to the cinema!
The film is centered on Michel who is renowned to be a fearful ‘Président’ within the court room, inflicting severe sentences to the accused throughout his professional career, as well as a man of very little compassion within his personal life. However, little to Michel’s knowledge, an invitation of jury service has fallen upon and been accepted by “Ditte”. Ditte is a caring, single mother of one in the medical profession who has, unbeknownst to the court room and rest of the jury, encountered Michel previously. The story-line follows an endearing reignition of life in both characters as they spend any available time outside of the homicide case in each others company. A once very unhappy and ruthless Président can be noticeably watched by the audience to change into a much more likeable man, a personality trait that was clearly within him from the very start but had got lost over time.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, “the film’s main problem is that it can’t decide what it wants to be and ends up not having enough time to develop anything in any depth. The plot involving the lead’s private lives isn’t romantic as much as more mutedly melancholic, while there’s an almost documentary-like edge to the material involving the case”, however, the skill of the films’ leads prevent it from being a dud as there is, “another typically fine performance from Luchini, who manages to inject some humanity into his character’s rather crude transformation from sourpuss into warmhearted dreamer, and a rare French-language turn from Knudsen”.
Before the film had started and due to the fact that my French is not ‘tip-top’, I was a little daunted to spend 1 hour and 38 minutes in a cinema watching a film without any comprehension of what we going on (such technical vocabulary was not the norm within my French conversations) so I was really surprised that I enjoyed this comedy-drama. I have to admit as well, in some scenes, I even let out the odd cackle of laughter.
Despite my fears over the potential language barrier and the dry subject matter I’m actually really glad I went to see this film. Sometimes it’s good to step out of your comfort zone, to take a leap of faith and find you enjoy something totally different.
Summary: Don’t expect a courtroom thriller or a rollercoaster romance. Go see it to watch two fantastic French actors and to practice your language skills. Even better if you can get a ticket for free!
by Lorna Talboys
