Review of 35 Shots of Rum (2009) by James M — 07 Aug 2011

With so many new directors bringing their films to festivals and Cinemas and quickly getting names for themselves, it's a real joy that Claire Denis still stands tall as a true original film maker; challenging and pushing the bounderies of storytelling in a fresh and intimidating way.

35 Shots Of Rum has a structure and pace where only the patient cinema goers and dedicated Denis fans will benefit from, however its innovation and unique method of storytelling is undoubtedly where the film truly delivers.

Lionel (Alex Descas) is a widower and lives with his daughter, Jo (Mati Diop). They have an extraordinarily close relationship where neither one of them have moved on to form any other relationship since the death of their mother/wife, other than the one they both share with each other. It's almost fly-on-the-wall stuff where you feel like a voyeur to a normal everyday running of a household where nothing much happens; Denis never puts scenes together that are perhaps obvious in a traditional sense. It moves tenderly, sways between love in both a family setting and a romantic one, but its always subtle and never heavy handed. It's this unorthodox style that Claire Denis has always approached (Beau Travail, Vendredi Soir), leaving some viewers either in awe of her or completely irritated by her. Maybe there's an argument for both? My thoughts of 35 Shots Of Rum is of a calming, moral and enchanting film. It's a film that presents a refreshing and introspective tale on family and relationships, from an angle devoid of the common and accepted approach we so often see in today's cinema.