How entertaining? ★★★★☆
Thought provoking? ★★☆☆☆ 22 January 2012
This a review of THE LITTLE TAYLOR. |
“What do you want with a stupid little tailor?” Arthur (Arthur Igual)
“You have to save me.” Marie-Julie (Léa Seydoux)
“Tell me how.” Arthur
Actor turned director, for this short film (44 minutes), Louis Garrel (THE DREAMERS; DANS PARIS) attended, with his star Léa Seydoux (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL; MIDNIGHT IN PARIS), to present THE LITTLE TAILOR as part of the “My French Film Festival’, celebrating up-and-coming directing talent.
“You have to save me.” Marie-Julie (Léa Seydoux)
“Tell me how.” Arthur
Actor turned director, for this short film (44 minutes), Louis Garrel (THE DREAMERS; DANS PARIS) attended, with his star Léa Seydoux (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL; MIDNIGHT IN PARIS), to present THE LITTLE TAILOR as part of the “My French Film Festival’, celebrating up-and-coming directing talent.
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In a way it seems like a sly nod to what we might expect from certain quarters of French cinema: it’s shot in black and white, has a voice-over, and is about romantic frustration. However, I never felt being talked down to, or a belittling of his characters, or lazy homage; instead Garrel (who also wrote) creates an energy and whimsy, with the whimsy not always staying so. Arthur is the titular littler tailor and perennially tardy. He is learning his craft from Grand Albert (Albert Igual). They discuss the Second World War as they work. It immediately adds some gravitas to proceedings. Arthur that evening meets actress Marie-Julie, and a charming romance begins. Two sad but witty people. However, all is not sweetness and light…
The direction is superbly confidant and the story engaging. I wondered why an extra 25 minutes or so were not added to make THE LITTLE TAILOR into a feature. I even asked Garrel this. His response was that the idea couldn’t have been stretched satisfactorily into a full-length film. Perhaps he’s right, it feels complete and certainly doesn’t outstay its welcome.