Superstar

Cast:
Kad Merad
Cécile De France
Louis-Do de Lencquesaing
Cédric Ben Abdallah
Alberto Sorbelli
Frédéric Boismoreau
Director: Xavier Giannoli
Produced by: Edouard Weil
Screenwriter: Xavier Giannoli
Cinematography: Christophe Beaucarne
Editing By: Célia Lafitedupont
Music By: Mathieu Blanc-Francard

 

Why?
It is the single word that permeates every aspect of the movie.
It is the question that Mr Kazinski asks repeatedly, and one that we are selves are left to answer.
Not just why him, why do people seek fame, and why are the rest of us so fascinated by those who have archived it.
Woody Allen took on this same subject in To Rome with Love, and in his wisdom understood that as a comedy, a 20 minute segment in a larger movie, was Sufficient; so the directors desire to construct a feature-length drama necessitated addressing the larger questions of why do we create tabloid “Superstars” and why do we so quickly, revel in their fall?

As the movie begins we watch Martin Kazinski, a frumpy, middle-aged man going about what is clearly a normal routine of preparing and then setting off to work. On the train his commute takes a strange turn when an attractive woman seems to take notice of him. As she exits the train, to his great surprise he notices one, then several people, cellphones in hand, taking pictures and video as if they just happened upon Brad Pitt. Woman, men, young and old are transfixed and each wants a photo and or an autograph. While many might find such fame exciting, at least in the short-run; Martin is instantly in a state of panic and flees, running and hiding as he makes his way to work. But the insanity follows him to his job managing a firm that employes disabled people to strip old computers for spare parts.

Martin is uniquely oppose to the notion of becoming famous, but in a Kafkaesque way the harder he tries to escape his new found stardom, the more famous he becomes. He tries to learn the source or logic that thrust his into the spotlight and is convinced by Fleur Arnaud, a pretty producer for a national cable network TV show to appear on their program under the guise that it will aid in his desire to explain that he does not wish to be famous and perhaps figure a way out of his situation. Fleur seems to be genuinely concerned, but is not about to let that get in the way of a great exclusive story.

This is a movie that has some surprises which I don’t wish to reveal; so I’ll stop here.

This film has moments that are laugh-out-loud funny, wrapped in a darker tale containing a subplot of who is really the puppeteer and how much control do they hold over the mess that swirls in the wake of their choices.

Larry Lubell