Film Review - Out of Season
Images courtesy of Palace Films.
Have you ever thought to yourself ‘I could’ve done better’, ‘why did I do that?’, or ‘I should have done more’? We all have regrets from our youth. People we didn’t appreciate, people we disappointed and those who saw the worst of us. Looking back on your life and seeing all the unhealed wounds and mistakes you’ve made makes it clear, as much as you wish you could change the past, you never can… or can you? The film Out of Season by Stéphane Brizé, explores exactly this - the topics of remorse and past romances within the beautiful setting of a small Balnearic town.
Out of Season, by director Stéphane Brizé delivers a visually stunning, sombre and dramatic French film. This slow paced rekindling between two former lovers invites the audience to explore the bittersweet sentiments left behind from unresolved feelings. Mathieu (Guillaume Canet), a famous actor, flees from Paris after experiencing social anxiety in anticipation of his first theatre performance. His escape lands in a spa reminiscent of a mental institution. There he reaches out to his ex-lover Alice (Alba Rohrwacher), now married with a daughter, whom he separated from 15 years ago. The pair air their struggles and reminisce on what their life could have been like had they stayed together. Eventually they engage in a romantic affair, overpowered by their sense of infatuation, making them forget their responsibility to their families and lives outside of one another. Ultimately, despite their regrets they realise that the past cannot be changed.
Stéphane Brizé’s director of photography, Marie Demaison, does an amazing job with the cinematography, displaying the beauty of the French seaside. The sombre cinematography paired with the soft piano music successfully delivers an aesthetic of a quiet and empty life. However, it should be noted that this film was extremely slow paced and may not be appreciated by those seeking the thrill of a dramatic romance. Rather than an overwhelming amount of excitement, Brizé brings a unique vision to craft an empty space that immerses the audience in the characters' experience, using the slow pacing along with the longshots displaying the stunning views in Bearnic. The constant bird’s eye views and long shots enhance the story by portraying the characters as small in contrast to the world around them. Furthermore, the bleak lighting highlights the lackluster lives of both Mathieu and Alice whilst at Barneic.
In conclusion, Out of Season is a strongly executed film that delivers a plot constructed from a reality of regret, offering strong performances and beautiful cinematography. The film validates the feelings of not only Mathieu and Alice, but the audience who may crave the presence of someone from their past. However, just like in Out Of Season, it’s important to remember that some people enter your lives for a reason, or a season.
Follow Layla on LinkedIn.
Out of Season is screening in cinemas from Thursday the 5th of December. For tickets and more info, click here.