Who says Wednesday says cinema. Today, we present our selection of films for the week, to guide you at best in the dark rooms.
1. The Next Room by Pedro Almodovar
Ingrid and Martha, longtime friends, began their careers at the same magazine. Ingrid became a famous novelist, while Martha turned to war reporting, which distanced them from each other. Years later, their paths cross again, in a context full of mystery. The Next Room is a remarkable work by Almodóvar, where Death becomes an intimate whisper, an opening to artistic elevation. The film explores how beings, trapped in their own narratives, consume themselves under the weight of their illusions. Tilda Swinton delivers a masterful performance.
2. The Daughter of a Great Love by Agnès De Sacy
Ana and Yves loved each other intensely before parting ways. Years later, their daughter Cécile makes a documentary about their meeting, bringing them together on this occasion. Still marked by their story, they try to find a way to get closer again. Despite a sometimes rapid narration, alternating between Paris and the Pyrenees, the director offers a bright look at the quest for inner peace. The chemistry between the two actors is evident, whether in scenes of tension or rapprochement, compensating for a certain lack of romanticism. While Agnès de Sacy doesn’t always delve into certain nuances, she nonetheless delivers a sincere and moving work.
3. Winter in Sokcho by Koya Kamura
In Sokcho, a seaside resort in South Korea, Soo-Ha, 23 years old, leads a monotonous life, divided between visits to her mother, a fish vendor, and her relationship with her boyfriend, Jun-oh. The arrival of Yan Kerrand, a Frenchman staying at the guesthouse where she works, brings up questions about her identity and her almost unknown French father. In the heart of a winter that numbs the city, Soo-Ha and Yan observe each other, try to understand each other, and weave a fragile bond. Behind the gentleness of its heroine, this intimate and cruel portrait explores the solitude of a young woman searching for answers. The emotional tensions fade in the calm of the snowy landscapes and the distant attitude of the foreigner, reinforcing the introspective nature of this drama.
4. Bernie by Richard Linklater
In Carthage, a small town in Texas in the 1990s, Bernie Tiede, an assistant mortician, is appreciated by all. An expert in embalming and a talented funeral director, he becomes close to Marjorie Nugent, a wealthy widow with a cantankerous nature and hated by the townspeople. Their unlikely friendship makes them inseparable: they travel together and seem inextricably linked. But Marjorie, increasingly possessive, ultimately exerts a stifling grip on Bernie, who, driven to the edge, kills her to regain his freedom. This satire of deep America, driven by the black humor and unique style of Richard Linklater, offers a sharp and captivating reflection on human relationships and deceptive appearances.
5. Criminal Squad: Pantera by Christian Gudegast
In this new adventure, “Big Nick” O’Brien continues his relentless pursuit through the streets of Europe, getting closer and closer to Donnie. Meanwhile, Donnie immerses himself in a perilous world, mixing diamond heists and risky alliances with the Panthers’ mafia. Between tension and action, their paths are about to cross in an inevitable confrontation.
