O.K
Laliberté is a good yet light-weight example of the expertise developed by the french connection of the 70's ONF. At times this movie verge on the whimsical but is always saved by the quality of the performances ( the chemistry between Godin and Guilbeault is great ). Also, there's no doubt in my mind that the meticulous work of veteran soundmand C. Hazanavicius is what really gives the movie a great realistic tone ( coz at times the dialogs that are scripted ( not the improv ones, of course ) felted a bit artificial to me ). But the main flaw of the movie comes at the end : when you've fully accepted that there won't be any action ( except skunk hunting maybe ! ), or any sort of climatic scene in this one and just enjoys it for the rightful depiction of everyday life the director than tries to compensate all that by going with something a little more risqué. It just basically feels false and a big misstep. Still, as a whole, the movie is enjoyable : the camping scenes are funny and touching ( Angele Coutu had a great rack ! ) and the party in the car makes you feel like you are right there with them ( Lapointe has great pot-smoking technique ! ). Sadly, as the movie don't come with English subtitles, that 1973 movie surely won't get any kind of revival outside Québec ( the whole point of reviewing this movie in the English language is just that ). And even here that kind of movie aren't made anymore. A bit shameful I think
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lor_5 January 2023My review was written in August 1981 after a MoMA screening: A 1973 Canadian film appearing at a Museum of Modern Art retrospective, "O. K. ...Laliberte" takes its title from a tag line aimed at the working class hero Paul Laliberte (Jacques Godin), who starts the film being arrested for hitting his wife who then throws him out. What ensues is a series of romantic comedy adventures with a feisty redhead Madelaine (Luce Guilbeault) and his slightly-shady buddy Pierre (Jean LaPointe), making for an overlong, only occasionally diverting slice-of-life film.
After a slow start, pic gets into a good groove thanks to Guilbeault's peppy thesping, matched against the dour unlikely leading man etched by Godin. His wife gets him a job as an exterminator (specializing in killing skunks) and contrived script has g.f. Guilbeault conveniently winning $450 worth of tomato juice in a contest just in time to give him a bath in the stuff to kill the smell of an angry skunk.
With both of them spending money beyond their means, crisis is caused by Laliberte losing his job. Duo decide to turn to crime, conveniently robbing the exterminator's office (wearing masks) where his wife works as receptionist. They have a happy ending.
Documentary film helmer Marcel Carriere handles his material realistically, but this proves at odds with the twists and turns of a far-fetched script. Acting is good, marked by the exuberant Luce Guilbeault, but technically the picture's bright colored visuals and Muzak score are undistinguished,