Amer (2009)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2009
	Director: Hélène Cattet & Bruno Forzani (The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears)
	Actors: Cassandra Forêt, Charlotte Eugène Guibeaud, Marie Bos, Bianca Maria d'Amato, Harry Cleven
	Country: F, B
	Genre: Thriller, Horror, Drama
	Conditions of visioning: 07.09.2014, Blu-ray, Home cinema
Synopsis: We follow the marking events at three period of the life of Ana (Forêt, Guibeaud, Bos).
Review: If it was a regular Drama I would probably be bored by a movie with such a synopsis. It was actually the highlight of the Espoo Fantastic Film Festival in 2010 and the directors proudly presented it there. What attracted me to it is that it is a tribute to the classic 70's-80's Giallo genre that I like, especially for the realization of Dario Argento (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Inferno, Suspiria). Giallo is a genre that is coming back with movies like Tulpa, Berberian Sound Studio or Masks, but Amer started it all and is still the best. Cattet and Forzani managed to create a mesmerizing visual trip and followed the codes of the classic Giallo but added a more 'artsy' sensibility rather that the usual thriller / polar one. I learned in Espoo that they managed to shoot exactly the movie they envisioned and storyboarded, which is impressive but risky as well because once you say that you cannot blame the budget or the producers if something doesn't look good. However they didn't have to as their movie is an eye candy. Some could criticize the story which is rather simple, or the visual experimentation that are not without reminding 2001: A Space Odyssey at times. What I remember most is the framing which is always done purposefully (if you shoot from the bottom it is to show something on the ceiling) and the use of vivid colors and shadows (for that I love the taxi scene at the traffic light), without forgetting the usual sexual symbols like the leather, the spiders, hair, sweat... When watching Amer you have to put the volume quite loud so that you don't miss the sound effects that help a lot immersing you in the atmosphere. Music is scarce and borrowed from La Polizia Chiede Aiuto, and when it kicks in (usually at the transition between the different age periods) it is a great pleasure. I will soon watch the short films by the same authors presentedas bonus on the Blu-ray, and I am very much looking forward to watching their newest movie The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears at the MFFF2014.
Rating: 9 /10