Attila Marcel

A young mute piano player, Paul is left in the care of his two domineering aunts after the death of his parents. They died tragically when he was two and the only memories he seems to recollect are ones that appear as nightmares. Taught to play the piano by the aunts, he spends his days performing recitals for their friends and dance tangos for customers. And so it goes on until a chance encounter with his downstairs neighbour Ms Proust. She manages to convince him into fishing out his memories by using her special herbal tea which sends him into a trance like state each time.

I often wonder if French cinema is the best in the world. It has vast reserves of high art, broad entertainment and character pieces. Sometimes it even has cross over pieces like this that marry elements of all three together in an exotic and dreamlike blend. When I came to this film I had mixed opinions. I loved Triplets but hated The Illusionist. The first was weird and wonderful, the second slow, trudging and without reward. I worried all the good from one had been lost.

With Attila Marcel I loved many of the broad touches of humour. The laughs were heartfelt especially the quirky comedy of the aunts and the Chinese girlfriend. The musical numbers were unexpected but they are exceptionally well choreographed and joyous. The character pieces are all found in the oddity of peripheral people like the dance school group with individuals that bring a smile and hold a thrill. Ms Proust even with her self-opinionated self is fun. All those who visit her for her magic touch are superb and even the dancing creatures are all great. Very Tim Burtonesque.

The art comes in the flashbacks; they are superb in melody but also in the dreamlike execution. It reminded me of a mash up of a Disney and David Lynch film. They have elements of the dreams in Triplets but with such pathos.

As with almost all films, this film has some problems. It is a little slow in places and I felt it over plays the tea lady which is unnecessary. Then we have the aunts who are literally played like ducks at many moments, almost unreal but this appears an intentional addition to their oddity and can be said to balance their performance.

But all this makes this film so much better. Watch it.