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Russian dolls

Les poupées russes
Feb 02, 2017kyc14 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
this film is the 1st i saw of director klapisch's work. i liked it for the following reasons: 1. his style is fast pace, using "busy" montage techniques of multiple thumbnails ("macro-pixelation") & several simultaneously, irregularly split screens (puzzle-like) to carry the story. quite fitting to the assortment of young men & women & relationship among them. i got the sensation of peeling off russian dolls! 2. all the location shots & scenes are beautifully done. at the same time i couldn't help but to feel strongly about the various city life & work environments the characters live in. 3. unlike older french films about urban love, the dialogs/monologues are simplistic & counterculture at times. gone are the wordy philosophy of love or political argument among the average french people in yrs gone-by. there is even a candid "editorial" against ceremonial wedding, LOL! 4. the director's approach in this film seems to bring this modern story of love conflicts among young working professionals to the new millennium, thrusting the viewer to the busy working & busy loving ("rainbow" styles) reality of this hectic world. but near the end, a sensible contrast is presented in 2 sequences: slow motion of the model on the perfectly "proportional" street, & emotional reconciliation against a peaceful backdrop in the wedding reception on a claustrophobic river boat. this film is lighthearted, non-stuffy & a breath of fresh air in modern french cinema. bravo! update 3/6/2017. now that i have seen all 3 of the "xavier trilogy", may i rearrange their order according to my liking? the best: #2 russian dolls (2005) less than best finish: #3 chinese puzzle (2014) good start: #1 l'auberge espanole [spanish apartment] (2002)