Review of Lemming (2005) by Andrew C — 03 Apr 2007

I'm very ambivalent towards this one. Going in all I knew was that Charlotte Gainsbourg was in it and that was more than enough reason to warrant a watch. Coming out I feel enfuriated but also amazed, which kinds of sums up the genre mismatch of the movie. It moves from dry comedy, to drama, to supernatural, to thriller then to hollywood.

For much of the first hour I was bemused by how bizarre it was but after the initial shock of an early death scene the movie turns into a psychological thriller and I can say I haven't been put this far into a characters psyche for a long time. I was completely involved with the main characters situation and was replicating his emotions heh.

There is some beautiful camerawork too, especially up at the isolated lake and all the silhouette stuff which creates a really eery atmosphere. Also got to mention the decision to use hardly any lighting for Charlottes pivotal transformation scene which really added to the effect.

It's a very french movie and it's probably a good 15-20minutes too long. The pacing is very very deliberate so I wouldn't advise people to watch it unless they were in the mood to concentrate and take it all in. A popcorn movie it aint.

But as I said earlier, I am totally ambivalent - while some of the camerawork and the pyschological nightmare of the main character totally drew me in I was put off by the length, the changing tones, the whole lemming thing (what was that about? a metaphor for their lives?).

I'll need time to dwell on this one a little longer me thinks.

P.S - I want my adorable Charlotte from Science of Sleep back!!