Delon. Levi. Dombal. Bacall. From the height of the balloon This film can be viewed in several realities.
Essentially Delon's last bright exit. Aging and retiring writer Alexander is not something that fades away - he fades away and enjoys his experiences. His young wife, in fact, before his eyes, receives very active sexual practices, and Alexander does not seem to care about this externally. All this breeds the ground for misanthropy, which manifests itself in his passion for balloon flights.
After all, it is much better to get away from the fight than to constantly respond to challenges, create something new and always put your reputation as a famous writer on the line. A hermitage for Alexander is the best solution.
The film revolves around how producers come to Alexander. The film adaptation of his work is just that challenge. He changes everything. The main character, Laura, fascinates Alexander. It's predictable.
However, this is only the outer layer of the film. You can look deeper.
Levi’s dreams of revolution are realized in the modest charm of the bourgeoisie on the Mexican coast. While the characters of the film solve their very “high” problems, people from a completely different class are preparing a revolution. Flames. Levi is a revolutionary. His very dubious political activities, coupled with the information that the tape was funded by François Pinault, add to the tape of contradictions. And Delon, as it turns out, often chooses very dubious political comrades and interlocutors.
On another level, the story of how great Delon and Bacall look in the frame. Two legends. As symbols of American and French cinema. They are close, but so far apart.
Ariel Dombal is Levi's wife. It's her benefit. Frank scenes. Close-up plans. Confident interaction with the legend - Delon. Funny... But... Alexander looks through his fingers at his wife’s infidelity. And at the same time, Levy actually just as "throws" in the grind of candid scenes his wife Ariel Dombal.
And finally, the filmography of the legend. This picture turns out to be one of Delon's most significant final attacks. He's almost like Sam Leon (Belmondo's character from Destiny's Pleasure) going into a hermitage, contemplating the madness of the world. But here's Sam Leon - can't afford passivity. And Alexander, performed by Delon, looks like a living dead man, carrying a cargo of his disappointments in a balloon. Then, in the late 90s, it seemed that we had a new persona Delon, after which there will be a series of new interesting roles. It didn't work out.
So, before us is an unusual and controversial, but incredibly interesting project.
8 out of 10