The Big Picture

Ah, the French social scene. Low lit dinners with good friends, wine and tasty food to the fore. Throw in intellectual conversation and what’s not to like? Well in Eric Lartigau’s The Big Picture, it’s possibly two of your guests demonstrating their marital problems via drinking too much and snide remarks. Don’t expect the French version of Kramer vs. Kramer mind as Stephane Cabel’s script suddenly goes off on a wild tangent after photographer Paul Exben (Romain Duris) accidentally kills someone and does a runner to a remote village on the Adriatic coast, leaving all behind him. He can’t keep under the radar for long though and as soon as his talent for photography is discovered (attracting a wide audience) Exben is forced to flee again. Here the film goes even more off-piste, into such dark territory you’d think the projectionist has accidentally slipped in a reel from a different film. There is then a conclusion of sorts, but it’s unclear what Lartigau’s message is with his film. If it’s one of redemption, due to a heroic act by Exben at the conclusion, then it’s pretty trite. The film is more interesting in its study about just how difficult it is for a person to disappear in this day and age of internet, CCTV and persons with cameras on their mobiles standing on every street corner. In addition, fans of cult 90’s shocker Man Bites Dog will be up in arms at Exben’s method of disposing a body in the sea. Duris does a decent job in the lead role, but he’s missing his charisma (albeit this is a totally different genre) from Heartbreaker and doesn’t appear to himself believe in some of the decisions Exben makes. If you’re a fan of French cinema, when I tell you this is very “French” you’ll know what I mean and will go with the (slow) flow. Though, however much Lartigau wants you to think about the human condition, The Big Picture can’t disguise the fact he’s made his point in a very dull manner.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict

Pretentious? Moi? Rating: 5/10.