Baden Baden
Director: Rachel Lang
Talent: Salomé Richard, Claude Gensac, Lazare Gousseau, Swann Arlaud
Release Date: 30th September
The 26-year old Ana (Richard) returns from her London internship only to fail in her new job as a set runner. She retreats to her home town of Strasbourg to care for her grandmother, the one constant figure in the film.
What follows is a series of interactions with friends, strangers, an ex-boyfriend and family members as Ana tries to come to terms with herself, her relationships and, simply, earn some money. While beautifully shot, the comings and goings of characters are at times confusing; it’s hard to know who’s who and what the significance of an interaction is. Funny and touching moments don’t stop one wondering where this film is going on more than one occasion.
In the end we don’t know that much about Ana. Despite the turbulent events she goes through, she doesn’t express emotion; she just moves on. Director Rachel Lang only gives us access to her mental state through incongruous, hallucinogenic vignettes and it is only as the film concludes that Ana’s emotions really catch up with her.
Words: Sarah Taaffe-Maguire
