chloeturgis

Documentary looking at the life of Paul Bedel, a farmer from Auderville (Normandy, France) who is about to retire.

'I'm not part of folklore... I'm in my life' claims the 75-year-old, who lives with his 2 sisters. None of them has ever got married. They have instead dedicated their lives to running the family farm.

The camera follows them as they complete their daily tasks in the fields and indoors (such as making butter and cider). Paul's remarks and meditations on life - past and present - are at the centre of the film, which also offers picturesque views of the region of La Hague.

'Paul dans sa vie' provides an insight into rural life from a variety of angles: historical, sociological, linguistic and to some extent philosophical. Indeed, it shows us how the countryside and its people have evolved over the years - fewer people have been working in agriculture; more and more locals have started working for a factory opened in the 1960s: a nuclear waste reprocessing plant. Paul is one of the last farmers to have stuck to his land in the area. Sometimes the film is subtitled - even for French people - when he and his sisters speak with a strong local accent or use their Norman dialect. Overall, this touching documentary offers a reflexion on different aspects of life - the passing of time, inheritance, the importance of nature, general existential questions, etc. Focussing on the example of a local French farmer, it becomes universal.

I found 'Blue In The Face' much more enjoyable than 'Smoke': it is funnier and more genuine. Although I must admit that seeing 'Smoke' allowed me to discover Paul Auster's novels, many of which are also set in New York (Personally I would recommend The Invention Of Solitude and Oracle Night). Here are a couple quotes from 'Blue In The Face' that I found hilarious: Lou Reed: Yes, I'm smoking cigarettes and many of my friends have died of it. On the other hand, while I'm smoking cigarettes, I'm not downing a bottle of Scotch in 15 minutes. So looked at from this point of view, it's a health tool. Lou Reed: My childhood was so unpleasant that I don't remember anything I think before age 31.

Entertaining but somewhat frustrating overall, with a predominantly male point of view of relationships (which isn't necessarily a bad thing!). Includes funny lines and hilarious situations (shopping for the right shoes, losing the car keys...) complemented by good performances by professional and amateur actors, but doesn't go the extra mile. The film is probably a bit too short, but it is made up of a rather convincing series of sketch scenes portraying life-like situations. It's a shame that images are often overexposed - Yet the whole film is quite an achievement, given the fact that it's a low-budget film which was all shot with a DV camera. Worth watching if you're into Le Peril Jeune (also starring Romain Duris) and the like.