Waiting For You

On his death bed Len (Sam Cox) almost delirious blurts out something about pearls and France to his son Paul (Colin Morgan). Swiftly segueing into the memorial Paul reads the eulogy in front of a large audience including his mother and many of his colleagues and friends from his army days. Plenty of memories flow but not a good word about Len’s ex commanding officer Colonel Brown.

Now looking through his father’s papers he comes across a photo and postcard from a village in France hidden in a 7” single. This sparks something in Paul. His father left them with just debts, he journeys to a small rural village in France to find the house and more about the connection between Colonel Brown, his father and Aden in Yemen in the late ‘60s. Fetching up at a local bar he meets the sprightly Sylvie (Audrey Bastien) with whom he strikes up a rapport and some more local knowledge.

The house when he gets there is lived in to be kind to it, and tended by Ahmed (Abdelkrim Bahloul) who with Madame Brown’s permission shows Paul around the place. Paul is passing himself off as an architectural student who finds the property interesting enough to study. It’s a ruse to snoop around and get also for him to get better acquainted with the enigmatic Madeleine Brown (Fanny Ardant) who actually finds him an irritant. Digging down not that deeply he uncovers a lot more about his father, Madeleine and Colonel Brown

All told, as pretty as the film is, the meat of it, the mystery, it’s not terribly interesting. The film directed by Charles Garrad (co-written with Hugh Stoddart) is luminescent with a wonderful use of light and locations, is holed below the waterline by the characters.

Or rather Paul who is not in the least bit likeable in spite of having, on the face of it, the most sympathetic role. He comes over as arrogant and narcissistic and so desperately cynical it closes down any lifeline for him. Ardant is slightly more approachable if looking like going through the motions while Bastien is look as if she is enjoying herself at least.

Waiting For You is released on multiple digital platforms, including Amazon, Google, iTunes, Microsoft, Rakuten, Sony and Vudu on September 28th.