In the month of Bastille, let's celebrate French cinema with a film from Roschdy Zem and starring The Intouchables stand-out Omar Sy.
This is the true story of celebrated French clowns Foottit and Chocolat, who took Parisian high society by storm in the late 1800s. It's a story of hopes and dreams, empowerment and subjugation, and of inherent, open, institutionalised racism.
The story begins in a small country circus where the main attraction in Kananga the Cannibal - a fierce, terrifying, black savage from deepest Africa.
It's a performance Rafael (Sy) doesn't particularly enjoy, but like they say, it pays the rent. When fading star George Foottit sees him perform, on the look-out for something or someone to spruce up his own act, he sees something else in Kananga; he sees a clown.
They would become legend, soon plucked from the provinces and onto the stages of Paris.
Their relationship is the backbone of the film, and it's complicated. Foottit enforces his role as teacher, but it feels like trainer.
He's the boss, but it feels like master. He knows their success depends on them both together as team, but the more that success and fame grows, the bigger impact it has on them - especially Rafael.
This is a sad, dark, true story, the tears of a clown can be a terrible thing. Chocolat's fight to be treated as an equal will take a lifetime, and not just his, confronting his own inner demons just as big a fight.
So while this story is clearly worthy of the telling, what the film itself ultimately lacks is confidence; it feels almost too small for the story and fails to really pick up momentum and grab the audience.
Important enough to tell, unfortunately not told memorably enough to have a lasting impact. I found myself losing interest in parts, challenging my commitment.
So it came down to Foottit and Chocolat to save the day. Their performances are excellent, both main players inhabiting their dual roles of man and clown with both passion and restraint - in fact James Thierrée won the Cesar this year for Best Supporting Actor.
The clown acts themselves are of their time but feel fresh, kinetic and organic, delivered with energy and joie de vivre, a reminder of the beauty in the art of clowning around.
Three stars.
* Monsieur Chocolat is in cinemas now.
Newshub.
