Beating Hearts: A Tragic Yet Romantic Coming-Of-Age Drama
Image: Beating Hearts: Malik Frikah and Mallory Wanecque.
Nominated for 13 Cesar Awards (French Academy Awards), Beating Hearts was a hit at the French box office and should appeal to Australian movie-goers who enjoy watching coming-of-age and tragic, romantic dramas.
Directed by Gilles Lellouche, the story delves on 2 students who meet at school. The attraction between both in instantaneous. Clotaire is 17, street wise and a likeable bad boy. Jackie is pure and a good student who quickly falls in love with Clotaire.
Young love and innocence are shattered when Clotaire joins a gang of criminal deadbeats and participates in heists. He’s told, “It’s just that good isn’t good enough. The most important thing is to make as much cash as possible.”
Tragedy strikes soon after and he’s imprisoned 12 years for a crime he didn’t commit, but life moves on for Jackie. Is being young and surrounded by ugly stuff an excuse to get involved in criminal affairs? Will he avenge those responsible for the crime he didn’t commit? Is this the end for Jackie and Clotaire or will love to conquer all?
The octane charged opening scene which follows the dramatic opening credits sets the pace for this surprise movie of the year.
In the first half of the film the younger Clotaire and Jackie are portrayed by Malik Frikah and Mallory Wanecque respectively. As the story progresses France’s latest heart throb Francois Civil plays 28-year-old Clotaire and delivers an electrifying performance.
Award winning actress Adele Exarchopoulos who was the youngest recipient of the Palme d’Or for her performance in Blue Is The Warmest Colour in 2013, is also extraordinary as the 25-year-old in and out of love Jackie.
What initially appears to be an innocent story of first love transpires a tale of gang warfare, retribution and the endless love between 2 tortured souls who may never find solace in one another’s embrace.
For the story to be realistic during the gang culture sequences, it was mandatory that the violent scenes were as authentically brutal and unsettling as possible. The loud and energetic musical score compounded to the dark and sombre mood which predominantly pervaded the second act.
Audiences will ponder as the story progresses, was Clotaire cursed, or did he have a choice? For every action there’s a reaction, and a common belief is that fate is predestined and cannot be changed – but it’s possible to be altered, as cleverly highlighted in this movie.
Beating Hearts
****
In Cinemas May 29
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