Bath Film Festival Day 2
The second day of the festival features two films that couldn't be more different — the gritty and raw directorial debut from Ralph Fiennes and a cute French film exploring the theme of gender. Other films on offer today: another French film —"La Piscine" (1969), directed by Jaques Deray — and action thriller "Elite Squad 2 — The Enemy Within" (2010) from Jose Padhila.
"Coriolanus"
Ralph Fiennes has chosen Shakespeare's most difficult play as his directorial debut and, if this wasn’t challenging enough, has placed himself in the lead role. It must be good, as the BFF scheduled an extra performance after the first sold out so quickly. It already been screened at the London Film Festival in October to excellent reviews.
In the original play, Caius Martiius Coriolanus, a solder and hero of Rome, hates his own people after he is elected as consul then politically maneuvered out again and expelled from the city. Wanting revenge, he turns to his enemy, Tullus Aufidius, and returns with an army intending to destroy Rome.
For Fiennes’ adaptation onto the big screen, he teams up with cinematographer Barry Ackroyd who assists nicely (having worked on 2009's “The Hurt Locker”) to give the Shakespearean play a boost into the modern, Balkan-type state from ancient Rome. There have been many any other adaptations of the British playwright’s work, and Fiennes’ addition is something special. Lucky for him, he starred in the same role on stage 10 years ago and, as a theatre actor, is best suited for taking on a complex character and their story such as this one.
The film appears to be separated into two halves. The first is bathed in success for Coriolanus and his family, encouraged by his mother Volumnia (played by the ever-stunning Vanessa Redgrave) and accompanied by sweet Virgilia (Jessica Chastain wonderful in 2011's “The Help”) as he is made consul. The second is raw and brutal as resentment-filled Coriolanus descends deeper and deeper into his quest for revenge. Even his own mother forsakes him. You can even sense a little of the Red Dragon coming out in Fiennes’ performance. The battle scenes are where Ackroyd comes into play, bringing a sense of hard realism into the fighting that it could be footage from the news. Gerard Butler provides the muscle as Coriolanus’ new-found friend, Aufidius.
"Tomboy"
It’s always hard being the new kid on the block, but would you ever consider changing gender to fit in? When 10-year-old Laure moves with her parents to a new area, she befriends Lisa (Jeanne Disson), who thinks she is a boy. Desperate to fit in, she transforms herself completely and becomes Michael. Sadly, her parents are too involved in their own lives to notice their daughter's change.
This situation comes under threat when Laure/Michael’s relationship with Lisa starts getting closer. School is also approaching, and both elements threaten her new-found social status.
Working with a minimal crew and a documentary style of filming, director Celine Sciamma created a wonderfully intimate film in only 20 days during the summer. The warm colours of the film add to the innocence of seemingly endless summer holidays. Sciamma does very well to keep the theme of gender away from explorations of sexuality, which could have potentially ruined the film and made it entirely different. This is probably due to her previous experience directing another young cast in “Water Lillies” (2007), in which where a group of bored kids used sychronized swimming to occupy their time.