Director: Claire Denis
Talent: Vincent Lindon, Chiara Mastroianni, Julie Bataille, Michel Subor, Lola Créton
Release Date: 14th February
A man’s life is turned upside down when he learns of his brother-in-law’s suicide. On returning to Paris to investigate, he finds that the man’s daughter, his niece, has been viciously assaulted in her past. The two events are connected and link back to a powerful businessman whose most terrifying attribute is his likeliness to the former pope Benedict XVI.
Bastards is a sparse film yet one that tries to play out a rather complex narrative. The idea was probably to be subtle, maybe even stoic, but too often it’s just dull. The horror of the act at the centre of the plot is meant to go some way to drawing in the audience but even though we are shown it in some detail, it never resonates further than a shock. Some good performances make this enjoyable, but think Irreversible without the adrenaline and you’re most the way there. – Eoghain Meakin
