Cafe de Flore (2011)

Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallee | 120 minutes | drama | Actors: Vanessa Paradis, Kevin Parent, Hélène Florent, Evelyne Brochu, Marin Gerrier, Alice Dubois, Evelyne de la Chenelière, Michel Dumont, Linda Smith, Joanny Corbeil-Picher, Rosalie Fortier, Michel Laperrière, Caroline Bal, Nicolas Marié, Pascal Elso Jérôme Kircher, Claire Vernet, Manon Balthazard, Emile Vallée, Chanel Fontaine, Emanuelle Beaugrand-Champagne

Director Jean-Marc Vallée received a lot of appreciation in 2005 for his magnificent tragicomedy ‘CRAZY’ and acquired international name recognition. After ‘The Young Victoria’ he now comes with ‘Café de Flore’, which is about obsessive love in various expressions and manifestations. ‘Cafe de Flore’ has two different storylines about two lives in different locations, each set in a different time. It seems as if they cannot touch each other, but the ingenious set-up of the scenario gives the possibility to do so through a slightly mystical set-up. Is there perhaps a form of supernatural solidarity between the persons? This is elaborated in a slightly complex, carefully designed drama.

In the two storylines, we follow the life of mother Jacqueline (Vanessa Paradis) and her son with Down syndrome in Paris in the sixties. The other line plays in the present, in which we follow the successful deejay Antoine (Kevin Parent).

Jacqueline’s life is marked by difficulties surrounding the upbringing of her disabled son. She lives under difficult circumstances in a poor apartment and fights like a lioness with the evil outside world for her child. Her sacrificing but at the same time obsessive love is initially a great incentive for him to develop, but later also an obstacle to wrestle from that almost suffocating mother’s love. Antoine seems to have everything his heart desires at the beginning of the story. A luxurious house, business success, beautiful daughters and a beautiful girlfriend. However, it is not all gold that glitters.

In a story that constantly jumps back and forth in the lives of Jacqueline and Antoine via flashbacks, we meet Carole (Hélène Florent), Antoine’s beautiful ex-wife. Then it turns out that Carole is (still) very much in love with Antoine and has not yet been able to process her grief about the divorce. He was (and still is) the only and true man for her. Antoine and Carole have suppressed their grief, but have never dealt with it.

‘Café de Flore’ is not always easy to follow due to the many jumps in time, but shows in a magnificent way that processing relationship problems and being able to distance themselves from obsessive feelings is a long road that has to be traveled with a lot of pain. . It is not only Jacqueline who is confronted with guilt by her motherly love. Antoine also suffers from the grief he inflicted on his beloved ex-wife. This continues in the relationship with his new lover. The breakup of his family and the grief of his two daughters were the consequences he had to accept, but which are difficult for him to deal with.

Being able to let go of a loved one is an agony because of the strong bond that remains. As the story of ‘Café de Flore’ progresses, the characters develop more and more. The way in which the two storylines (seem to) coincide is convincing and credible. Some sidelines in the story make the film a bit on the long side, but beautiful camera work, supported by a beautiful music score, makes the atmosphere in the film palpable and fascinating until the end. How will this end and where do the stories seem to eventually touch each other?

Vanessa Paradis with her son impresses with their interpretation, but Kevin Parent and Hélène Florent also convince with experienced play. Don’t be put off by the somewhat complicated storyline and the many flashbacks. Enjoy the atmosphere. This is also grief processing at its best! ‘Café de Flore’ is intriguing, penetrating but above all atmospheric.