Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

5 x 2 (2004)

Director: François Ozon

Average user rating
1 review

Movie review

From Time Out London

In ‘5x2’ François Ozon, the hard-working boy wonder of new French cinema, leads us backwards through the failed marriage of a young couple, from the cold details of their divorce to the first pangs of lust on the shores of a Sardinian beach resort. Composed of five chapters of roughly equal length, the film takes us back over about five years, going from misery to bliss – an irony that Ozon compounds by liberally decorating his soundtrack with corny Italian love songs. (Corny maybe, but very catchy; the deep strains of Paolo Conte’s ‘Sparring Partner’ are still ringing round my head…)
So we begin with the end: the marriage of Marion (Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi) and Gilles (Stéphane Freiss) is over. Their lawyer clinically reads out the terms of their separation. The newly divorceds then retire to a hotel where they indulge in loveless sex (which becomes rape when Marion changes her mind). Perversely, Stéphane suggests that they try to work things out; Marion sensibly disagrees, leaves the room and walks into the hotel lift. It’s the last moment of Ozon’s story – and we’re only 20 minutes in.
Ozon’s narrative Tardis then transports us through four well-framed scenarios in the history of the couple’s relationship: a dinner party with Gille’s gay brother and partner while their son sleeps; the birth of their child; their wedding; and the beginning of their affair in Italy, where Gilles is on holiday with his previous girlfriend.
It’s an interesting exercise in signposting. Too often, we watch movies and groan at the obvious twists and turns towards a predictable end. But there’s something Brechtian about Ozon’s approach here. The end is clear; the question is how we got there, what we can deduce from the little behaviour we witness. The experience is something like a criminal investigation, a search for clues to Gilles and Marion’s impending break-up. It makes for engaging viewing – but still leaves you with a feeling that all love is doomed. Stimulating, but hardly comforting.

Author: DC

Time Out London Issue 1804: March 16-23 2005


  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend

User reviews of this film

  • Sharon b said...
    Posted on Nov 27 2007 18:03 I just want to say that since this film was shown on Channel 4 a few weeks ago I just can't get it out of my head. A totally amazing film and the music is so haunting and beautiful, despite the reviewer saying it was "corny", but it fitted so well with the film. I will be calling C4 to enquire when it is being shown again. If not will need to buy the DVD. I completely recommend this to all!
    Report as inappropriate

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields





Top Stories

A Farewell To Tartan Films

A Farewell To Tartan Films

To mourn the loss of the great Tartan Films, Time Out remembers a few of the best films to emerge from their impressive canon

Jason Bateman: interview

Jason Bateman: interview

Jason Bateman – star of ‘Hancock’, alongside Will Smith – talks to Time Out about his comic influences and how to pretend to throw a car

Ten Great Head Shots In The Movies

Ten Great Head Shots In The Movies

Lots of people get shot in the head in the new film 'Wanted'. Read our guide to some other great head shots on film

Set visit: 'The Damned United'

Set visit: 'The Damned United'

Dave Calhoun gets his training kit on as he visits the set of a new film about football legend Brian Clough’s torrid spell at Leeds United in the mid-1970s