Aka: Le Dernier des Fous; Demented
DVD review (region 2)
Directed by Laurent Achard
Starring Julien Cochelin, Pascal Cervo, Annie Cordy, Dominique Reymond
Release date 25 May 2009

The story of a dysfunctional family who live in an isolated farmhouse, including psychologically damaged mother Nadège (Reymond) and her two sons - gay poet Didier (Cervo) and timid ten-year-old Martin (Cochelin)…

Laurent Achard’s second feature (based on Timothy Findley’s 1967 novel) draws heavily from the history of French naturalist cinema, but is differentiated by a much more sombre tone and dreamlike atmosphere.

Very little happens in terms of actual plot, yet Achard creates a pervading atmosphere of unease through a reliance on long shots, an absence of exposition and a set of unpredictable characters who swing abruptly between affection and conflict.

A fear of death permeates the story, with Didier teasing Martin that an impending meteorite will wipe them out and Martin struggling to find the courage to finish off a dying stoat. Meanwhile, we gradually come to realise that it isn’t just the screaming, agoraphobic Nadège who is ‘crazy’, and her sons bear deep psychological scars too.

It’s far from uplifting viewing, and the lack of dialogue and Achard’s insistence on keeping the viewer at an emotional distance make this a difficult movie to watch at times. But it’s an effective, transfixing mood piece that boasts some terrific performances, especially from Julien Cochlin as the taciturn, almost vacant-looking boy prone to outbreaks of wild behaviour. The film’s eventual tragedies have an almost mystical, horror-movie quality to them that are guaranteed to leave you deeply unsettled. Matt McAllister

VERDICT: 7/10
A slow, atmospheric drama with moments of hypnotic beauty.