From Deseret News archives:
Indochine
Film review
"Indochine" is an epic tale, a big, long (2 1/2 hours) sprawling story of a French woman and her adopted Indochinese daughter, set largely during the 1930s against the backdrop of French-occupied Indochina (which later became Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia).
As the film begins, we meet Eliane (Catherine Deneuve), a Frenchwoman who has never been to France. She was born in Indochina to a wealthy rubber plantation owner, and she is a strong feminist who is well ahead of her time.
Eliane is also rather condescending to "her children," the Indochinese workers on her plantation, and is not above whipping them for infractions. But she also has her adopted Indochinese daughter, Camille (Linh Dan Pham), who is of royal descent. Eliane took Camille in when the girl's parents died in an accident.
As the film begins in earnest, Camille is young and naive and very close to her adoptive mother. But later she will take up with a French naval officer and literally head for the hills, becoming a leader in the revolution and finding herself a legendary figure who will be used as propaganda to inspire her peers.
"Indochine" should be about how Camille and Eliane are changed by this experience, possibly as a metaphor for changing Indochina. But as with many films of this type, the focus is too much on the French and not enough on the Indochinese.
The cinematography is gorgeous and there are lots of beautiful shots of both the landscape and the cast. But there is little emotional connection, which is essential in a movie that aspires to be take an epic view.
The concentration instead is on soap opera plotting that gets pretty sappy sometimes, as well as thick, torpid dialogue.
There's no question that only an actress of Deneuve's stature could carry something like this off and retain her dignity much less get an Oscar nomination for it. But she is good.
In fact, in this case and despite her being absent from a good deal of the second half Deneuve is the film. Her fans will certainly want to see it, even if they find the overall effect less than satisfying.
After all, it's been awhile since American audiences have been treated to a Deneuve movie. And who knows when the next one will come along?
"Indochine" is rated PG-13 (though an R might be more appropriate) for violence, sex, nudity, profanity and drugs.
Comments
Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Vincent Perez, Linh Dan Pham.
Find a Movie Theater
- MVPs, 1st team to be honored, twice 2:13 a.m.
- Hall a finalist for QB's Manning Award 2:12 a.m.
- Pitta named to All-America team 2:10 a.m.
- Crimson Club hosting lunch with Boylen 2:08 a.m.
- BYU wants wins in paradise 2:07 a.m.
- NHL roundup 2:05 a.m.
- 1A high school football: All-State teams 1:49 a.m.
- 2A high school football: All-State 1:40 a.m.
- 3A high school football: All-State 1:30 a.m.
- 4A high school football: All-State 12:48 a.m.
- Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- Aggies shoot past Cougars
- Mitchell said to share LeBaron traits
- Phoenix signs off on LDS temple
- BYU prof a 'Top Global Thinker'
- Toddler dies trapped under mattress
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Aggie 'D' holds BYU to season low
- Crews to seal Nutty Putty Cave
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
406 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
361 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
287 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
217 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
188 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
175 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
159
I laughed at the names that were given to the snakes, such clever names. I...
I used you to really hope you were always kidding with your political posts....
RE: Anon @ 5:47 There is a BIG difference between freedom of and freedom...
The only ones that are disturbed are the liberal media that hates guns so bad...
Matt it has been awesome to have you here as a player and role model. I hope...
I'm a USU grad, and saw a great shirt about US not you! "DEE GLEN SMITH...
Hey look, Jazz Cop and CL are agreeing with each other on back-to-back...
Hey, the papers are going bankrupt because of their inability to adjust their...
Matt, you will be truly missed. Thanks for showing us what playing with real...
Good job to all the ladies this season. Hard work and determination has it's...




You can be the first to comment on this story.