Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageLe Chignon d'Olga (2001)
Director: Jérôme Bonnell
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Before you ask, a 'chignon' is a woman's hair-bun, and alluring Olga (Rollin) works in a bookshop. Teenager Julien (first-timer Benhamdine) is so smitten, he buys a volume of obscure poetry just to talk to her. But where next for his seduction plans? At least it gives him something else to think about, since all is not well at home just outside Chartres. Ignoring offers from music school, this once promising pianist finds himself unable to touch a keyboard; his troubled dad (Riaboukine, an avuncular teddy-bear of a man) has stalled during the writing of his latest children's book; and his sister (Loiret Caille), usually a real rock, is preoccupied with her love life (or lack of it). There's good reason why the household should be in such a funk, but among the many joys of 26-year-old writer/director Bonnell's remarkable debut is the deft, unpredictable and impressively mature way in which he patiently reveals the full extent of the family's plight. A sense of accomplished naturalness prevails, thanks to unaffected performances (particularly good are Benhamdine's listless yet sympathetic protagonist, and Boutefeu as the neurotic friend with unending man trouble), and the camera's intimate ease with the everyday travails. There are definite shades of Rohmer, and even a sprinkling of delightful clips from Chaplin's The Circus, in this considered, compassionate, utterly disarming record of life's learning curve. Just lovely.Author: TJ
Cast & crew
Director: Jérôme Bonnell
Producer: Artcam International Joël Farges, Elise Jalladeau, AT-production Arnaud de Battice, Sylvain Goldberg
Cast: Hubert Benhamdine, Nathalie Boutefeu, Florence Loiret-Caille, Serge Riaboukine, Marc Citti, Antoine Goldet, Valérie Stroh, Clotilde Hesme, Delphine Rollin full cast
Duration: 95 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
What do you think?
Post your review now