Nocturama

2017’s “Nocturama”, directed by Bertrand Bonello.

Starring Finnegan Oldfield, Vincent Rottiers, Hamza Meziani, Manal Issa, Martin Petit-Guyot, Jamil McCraven, and Rabah Nait Oufella.

What is it about?

Nocturama is a tale about a (very) loosely connected group of individuals in current day Paris, who commit themselves to terrorism. Taking place over the course of 24 hours, the film has 2 distinct acts. The first is the group’s members going about the setting up of their terroristic acts, and the subsequent results. The second is the group hiding in a massive department store, waiting for the hubbub to pass over so they can avoid the police and escape from their crimes undetected.

Why is it worth seeing?

Listed by some as one of the best films of the year, it appears that I am guilty of being that guy who just doesn’t “get” this film. “Nocturama” (referring to the part of the zoo that houses nocturnal animals) certainly has it’s appeals: freakishly unique,  tons of style, a hip soundtrack, it looks great, is an interesting grab bag of past director’s styles and tropes (“Assault on Precinct 13”, “Dawn of the Dead”, “Elephant”), is a commentary on capitalism and it’s excesses, and finally it can inspire a LOT of conversation about terrorism’s potential strengths based on the failings of the society that it wants to prey upon.

But I found it slow- agonizingly so (I fell asleep). The choice to have an ongoing updating clock throughout the first act, instead of a timer and no indicator of when the time to strike is, eviscerates the potential of mounting tension. And the movie refuses to explain any of the characters’ motivations in joining the terrorist group, nor explain the group’s goals in actually committing the acts- despite having flashbacks of the characters.

Another strength I haven’t mentioned is the stakes involved- this is life and death stuff, and the movie does not hide from the consequences of these actions. This brings up the question of how this group could have planned so poorly for such an important task. However, again in it’s defence, perhaps that’s the best the characters can do. Twice, they express their bewilderment at being alive in present day society. When the credits roll, it’s tough to know what to say about this opaque art film and it’s group’s mission- was it accomplished?

Rating:

3/5

Trailer: Click Here.