VIE PRIVÉE

What's odd is the way this film transitions through genres. It begins as a typical French drama, before embarking on a form of mystery, then into a fantasy, then a romance, then a black comedy, until it all comes crashing back down and... it's right back where it all began. What's baffling is that the journey offers little change or growth. Lilian rekindles her relationship with her ex-husband and grows closer with her son and grandson, but beyond that, there's very little in the way of forward momentum throughout this 100-minute run time.

It's hard to say exactly why 'Vie Privée' falls short. Perhaps it's the story's many tangents that take you down long, meandering paths that lead to absolutely nowhere. Perhaps it's the fact that it tries not to be a cohesive collection of things, but a vast range of mismatched elements. Perhaps it's the fact that, despite its extensive expedition and hodgepodge patchwork, it ends up in the very same place that it begins. As such, it's hard to know exactly what this film is saying, other than appearing to negatively portray psychiatrists.

With all that said, it's a shame, because the cast is quite enjoyable, and watching them in an actual murder mystery or more concentrated black comedy could have been quite rewarding. Jodie Foster is actually a wonderful make-do sleuth, bumbling and imperfect and occasionally swearing in English when things go wrong. Lilian is clearly someone who has tried to keep everything compartmentalised for a very long time, possibly to her own detriment. This abnormal swell on an otherwise smooth existence disturbs her, and her mission is as much about quelling these ripples as learning the truth. As Lilian's quest takes her further down the rabbit hole, we see her further out of her depth as the situation gets downright messy, and into a territory she has zero belief in - however, it's only in these uncomfortable moments for Lilian that she seems able to make any real progress. Although the story may be awry, the fact that we take Foster's hand and follow her on this voyage is entirely due to her expert control as the film's main protagonist.

Something is lurking in the shadow-filled frames of 'Vie Privée' that would reveal a genuinely fascinating film. Unfortunately, it seems it was doomed from the scripting stage, and no elevated calibre of the cast or crew could save it from what was built into the foundations. Take a look to see a wonderful cast in action led by Jodie Foster, but don't be disappointed to see them led around in circles.