Nocturama

Film Comment has released their annual poll of the best films of the year. I've seen some, but many of them were never released out here in the desert, and some of them I've never heard of. But I do due diligence in trying to see them all.

First up is Nocturama, a French-language film, set in Paris, and directed by Bertrand Bonello. It is a film that refuses to follow normal narrative rules. As I understand it from things I've read, this is on purpose, making it in exercise in style and at the same time largely incoherent.

The film is about terrorism. For the first half of the film, we follow eight young people as they move about the city, planning bombings in a couple different places, as well as setting a statue of Joan of Arc on fire. After they set off the bombs, they hide out in a department store all night.

That's about all I know because that's all the script tells us. It does not say what they believe in (there a few words about the failure of democracy), how they met, or why they would all hide out in the same place, making them sitting ducks. The second half of the film is especially dumb, as the bombers play music, try on clothes, and have sex in the store. Doesn't basic common sense tell a group like this they need to immediately split up after committing their crimes?

The characters are also thinly drawn. In the opening scenes, we get statements of what time it is, but not of who is who. I only picked up some names as the film went on. Four of the characters are couples, and the group is interracial, but nothing is really said about that, though it would have made the film more interesting.

Those who praise the film seem to like that it is unconventional, but I found the film to be dull and had no stake in any of the characters. Frankly, I find it difficult to see how Nocturama could be on any best of the year list. It's a dud.