i saw this on a whim at BAM in september & was delighted by it’s combination of noir/french new wave/comedy . it’s truffaut so i don’t know how niche it is but i was taken aback but just how funny & sincere & sad it all was combined with the slightly surrealistic qualities of the script & line deliveries . a zippy 81 minutes of tragicomic misadventure & set in winter so perfect for the season !
Related Recs
not sure if it can well and truly be called a french new wave film for a lot of reasons (not quite french, not released in precisely the right time period, etc.) but i think a good entry point to the kind of surrealist, vibes-oriented as opposed to narrative-oriented filmmaking that "foreign films" (especially European) tend to evoke / get clowned for in American media
it's funny, it's bizarre, it has something to say but you might need a couple watches to get it (at least i did)
Feb 3, 2025
I had this movie recommended to me by a teacher in high school (shoutout Mr. Hicks!) and I bought the criterion physical copy. I absolutely loved it! It is one of my favorite movies to recommend to people wanting to dive into French cinema.
Apr 28, 2024
🎹
A friend recommended I watch this film after I gave him an in-depth explanation of my sexual dysfunction(s). It’s directed by Michael Haneke, known best for both the German and U.S. versions of “Funny Games”, so you already know it's fun for the whole family. I’ve been obsessed with it ever since. I fear it has possessed me. If you’ve seen it, you know more about me than I would willingly divulge even after years of friendship. I almost dressed as the protagonist for Halloween this year. In turn, I’ve become obsessed with Isabelle and she’s now one of my top five favorite actresses. Her poise and courage on screen is unmatched, not to mention raw sex appeal. She really is Mother/Maman.
Dec 6, 2022
Top Recs from @seiji
〰️
there’s that little jolt of joy when you discover that you’re having the same experience as another person
Mar 8, 2025
⏲️
it’s the perfect length for me to watch after work , i can start a movie at 11 or even 12 & get to bed at the (mostly) reasonable hour of 1:30 at the latest . sometimes i will extend this to 100 or 110 min if i‘m feeling indulgent or ambitious .
i could watch an hour of tv but this gives me a whole story in only a little bit more time .
Sep 11, 2024
6️
morning
go to george st diner for breakfast if you’re in the east end , the people are the best there & i’ve never had a bad meal , they also turn tables at a truly impressive rate while never making you feel rushed .. real professionals at work 🫡 [irish breakfast is fantastic in all 3 sizes it’s offered in] -> {afterwards go across the street to window shop at haven if you’re into beautiful but expensive clothing}
in the west end go to the federal it’s quick & reliable & cute , small menu but nothings bad [cubano & eggs federal are standouts for me]
if you want a coffee i think hamers is the best in the city , they really care about what they’re doing & the prices are surprisingly reasonable in a world where a coffee can easily scrape $10 if you’re not careful ... rooms coffee also has a couple locations across the city & the spaces are thoughtful & beautiful & filled w/ the city's creative directoriest types
afternoon
ossington is a ridiculous street but there’s a couple great stores there if you like shopping , lost & found is great for high end basics & i miss you is one of the best designer consignment stores in the city . sonic boom probably has the biggest vinyl selection in the city but it’s also home to toronto‘a only genuine film photobooth , it’s so cute & fun to squeeze into the booth & get a little strip of photos to take home
while around there you can walk around bellwoods & watch the dogs or get some great fruit & oysters from the farmers market if you’re there on a tuesday & head down the street to get a glass of wine at grape witches gorgeous back patio [they’re open from noon]
you could also head west to high park which is huge & a great place for a picnic or a stroll
museum wise the textile museum is small but always has something that takes my breath away , truly special exhibitions if you’re into textile arts
for a snack stop by le’s sandwich [cash only] for a stunningly cheap & surprisingly good banh mi from the owner’s living room or make the trip up to st clair to go to futura granita + gelato exceptional vibrant flavours & unmatched textures .. best in the city & so worth the trek
evening
if you’re west you can go roncesvalles & catch a movie at the revue [the citys best theatre] , just go see whatever is playing the editorial team there is fantastic & the crowd is always fun ! pre movie you can browse vinegar syndrome if you’re into under seen/under distributed movies of all varieties , lots of beautiful re editions here by the house label as well as others
for a nice dinner go to stop or mhel my two favourite restaurants in the city , seasonal & chef driven , both have small but passionate & kind teams who really care about the food & experience , definitely worth the admittedly high price to portion ratio , beautifully considered dishes & drinks but no fussy pretension behind them .
more mid priced options are le swan or bar vendetta [both from jen agg the city’s most publicly opinionated restauranteur who is also one of the best] , dotty’s or cafeteria [one of the new dinner/dance club hybrid spots that are mysteriously becoming a thing here now] cafeteria in particular is headed by eric mcdonald who has been my favourite chef since she blew my mind with what she was doing at sakai bar a few years ago
for drinks go to archive or little jerry for beautiful & interesting wine [little jerry in particular has fantastic warm sound & atmosphere & great vinyl dj’s setting the tone] or black dice for a fun japanese rockabilly cash bar
this is so long sorry … but i love my city & i especially love the food & drink scene/community here i think it’s really something special 🥲
Sep 17, 2024