La Chose publique

This directorial debut from the popular actor Amalric is terribly French. Commissioned to make a film by Arte on the Godardian theme of 'masculine/feminine', Philippe has the off-the-wall idea of making it in the frame of a documentary on local politics. Meanwhile his marriage is on the rocks. (The title puns on the phrase 'public affairs'.) Jokey and autobiographical, it's haphazardly constructed and looks dreadful - then Le Pen scores massive gains in the national election and the film becomes much more searching.