Review of Rust and Bone (2012) by Personanoir — 24 Nov 2012

Jacques Audiard's newest film is a beautifully subtle character study, carried by the wonderful and realistic performances of Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts. The film tells the story of an emotionally distant and tormented man who meets a woman who's had an accident and has lost both her legs.

The entire film is a slow-paced and detailed study of both characters, who grow closer and eventually overcome the problems of their lives and move on. Despite its bleakness, 'Rust and Bone' is an optimistic film.

Audiard creates an anti-romantic tale. The circumstances and the relationship between Ali and Stephanie are unconventional, fresh and deeply intriguing. The film's cinematography is fluid and kinetic, creating an awe-inspiring canvas of feelings and moods.

Despite the rawness and the subtlety of the film and its lead performances, though, the film is flawed. The film's third act is contrived and manipulative, which was a surprising disappointment for me, because the first two acts were low-key and realistic.

Also, the screenplay is kind of fragmented, never fully focusing on each of the two characters, never really deepening into their psyche. There are also subplots which feel unnecessary and strangely dull.

There are flaws here, but the result is quite rewarding. Led by two wonderful performances, this is a poignant, humane and unsentimental film that is worthy of the attention of cinephiles and fans of European cinema.