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Don't Look Down

Country: France, Language: French, 89 mins

Gay | Drama | 2019

Original Title

Haut perchés

Director: Olivier Ducastel; Jacques Martineau
Writer: Olivier Ducastel; Jacques Martineau
Producer: Cyriac Auriol

CGiii Comment

Odd...strangely compelling...but, definitely odd...in an absurdist sort of way.

Olivier Ducastel & Jacques Martineau seem to be channeling Jean-Paul Satre, there's a whiff of his 'No Exit' surrounding Haut perchés - so, you wouldn't be wrong in thinking that an existential vibe permeates throughout this peculiar offering. Not everyone's cup of tea and - quite possible - not everyone's cup of coffee either...it is a challenging bit of work that would have benefited more from the few [rather bizarre] scenes of levity...the 'flossing' scene is an instant, weirdly and insanely out-of-place [in a good way] classic. The film just needed a bit more of that insanity.

Saying that...this is an insane film...and, considering there is only one set [an apartment with a rather lovely Parisian rooftop view], the cinematography is slick and colourful. The performances...each character has their moment...and, can't be faulted. It's an interesting, technically accomplished film...it [too] has its moments, it just needed more of them and, perhaps, a few less words.

Trailer...

The(ir) Blurb...

A woman and four men, who barely know each other, find themselves in an apartment in the sky above Paris. They have all been victims of the same domineering pervert. That night, they decide to end this story. In turn, they tell each other memories that bind them to this man and enter the only room of the apartment to confront him. But what happens there is their secret.

Une femme et quatre hommes, qui se connaissent à peine, se retrouvent dans un appartement en plein ciel au-dessus de Paris. Ils ont tous été victimes du même pervers dominateur. Ce soir-là, ils décident d'en finir avec cette histoire. Tour à tour, ils se racontent des souvenirs qui les lient à cet homme et entrent dans l'unique chambre de l'appartement pour se confronter à lui. Mais ce qui s'y passe reste leur secret.