Alain-Fournier s adaptation doesn t translate on big screen
CAIRO: With more than 10 films participating in this year s festival, France has delivered some of the most enjoyable films so far including Le Passager De L été (Passenger of Winter) and L anniversaire (The anniversary).
It s disappointing that the only one in the international competition, Le Grand Meaulnes (Meaulnes the Great), left much to be desired.
The film is an adaptation of Henri Alain-Fournier s 1913 bittersweet coming of age novel about adolescence, honor, love and the absurdity of life.
The novel has not aged well, and the purpose of both the novel and subsequent film adaptations was to take readers and filmgoers to a trip down memory lane where oath keeping, friendship and other noble virtues were the order of the day.
Although the second cinematic adaptation of the novel looks good, with its mesmerizing scenes of the French countryside and its likable characters ? especially Clémence Poésy (Yvonne De Galais) ? the film is too slow.
After 97 yawning minutes, the final act is wrapped up too quickly; denying the audience any chance to absorb the quiet mess the protagonist has created. That explains the slumber most of the viewers fell into through different parts of the film.
Another problem with Measles was the motives behind the characters actions and behavior. They may have seemed persuasive back then, but don t translate well in our day and age. The director makes no effort to bridge the time gap.
Le Grand Meaulnes feels distant, soulless and poses no challenge to Jean-Gabriel Albicocco s 1967 adaptation which, despite its flaws, remains the definitive adaptation of the novel.
