Review of Café de Flore (2011) by Dickie L — 26 Apr 2012
I think its safe to say Jean-Marc Vallee loves music as much as cinema. With C.R.A.Z.Y. he focussed on the musical taste of his protagonist in a coming of age story, and here his main character is a DJ.
As with the former film, we are treated to plenty of musical nostalgia, both from the soundtrack and in spoken and visual references. Its a diverse mix of Pink Floyd, The Cure, Sigur Ros and the track from which the film gets its name.
Despite all this aural affection, Vallee doesn't make it easy for his audience. The film is split into two stories, spanning separate eras and continents, and within one of these stories the narrative constantly goes back and forth in time.
Despite the effort it takes to put the pieces together, the rewards are well worth it. Vallee has such a flair for visual compositions, and there's an admirable ambition to his storytelling. I only wish there was a soundtrack available.
This review of Café de Flore (2011) was written by Dickie L on 26 Apr 2012.
Café de Flore has generally received positive reviews.
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