Salocin

5x2

5x2 [cinebel.be] (Cinq fois deux) took me by surprise, but given the nature (and emotional brutality) of the opening scene, in which a couple are going through a mutually agreed, but strangely cold and painful divorce, that's hardly surprising. Directed by Francois Ozon and starring Valeria Tedeschi and Antoine Chappey, the movie deconstructs a relationship by looking at five defining moments in reverse order, leaving us with a sense that perhaps the warning signs of the divorce in the opening scene were present in the visible character traits of the protagonists from the day they met.

Gilles and Marion are getting divorced, and after their divorce, they are going to make love for the last time, although one wonders what must be going through their heads.

Starting with the end of the story, we know that they are doomed to failure, and the audience's attention is therefore drawn to the signs of that gradual decline, which become ever fainter as we go backwards in time towards their initial happiness. Nevertheless, since we know what we are looking for, we see it in each look, in each action, in each decision and in every character trait. A tragedy carved in stone, waiting to happen, and of their own making.

It's painful to watch, and Ozon certainly never pulls his punches when it comes to the visualization of their declining relationship, and their few but critical character flaws. This is characterization with purpose - gentle caricature that brings out those traits the director wishes the viewer to take notice of, and he collaborates excellently with his actors to ensure that everything hits the screen with its impact undiminished.

This strong film makes for very hard viewing, and points the finger at the hairline cracks in the most beautiful of relationships, demonstrating how human weakness can allow those cracks to grow until the entire edifice comes tumbling down, emotionally crushing its inhabitants in the process.

A good film, to be watched when you're feeling strong. You have been warned.