Longing North Station To whom life is boogie-woogie, well, and me is complete nonsense, the unforgettable group Chige and Co. sang, although she was hardly acquainted with the French director Claire Simon. Her new film “Gar du Nord” (Siaures stotis) could well inspire Sergey Chigrakov for now legendary lines. And it seems to everyone has long been clear that the French soul does not revere in melancholy and sad sighs, but the despair that blows from the “Gar du Nord” will exceed the expectations of even those who sincerely like to cry for no reason.
The action of the picture begins, develops, stops, develops further and it is not clear why it ends at the North Station of Paris. In such clusters of random passers-by, as you know, anything happens. In general, for two hours, everything happens on the screen, except a logical chain of events connected by the storyline. Four main characters can be distinguished from the chaos: Ismael (Reda Cateb), Matilda (Nicole Garcia), Sasha (François Damiens) and Joan (Monja Shockri). Sasha is looking for her missing daughter, Joan is often at the train station due to work trips, while solving family problems, Ismael is writing a dissertation in sociology, and Matilda just wanders from side to side with a lost view. While collecting materials for his diploma, Ismael meets Matilda and the viewer is invited to watch their strange love story. Why weird? Because Ismael and Matilda are separated not only by 30 years, but also by the mysterious illness of Matilda, her husband and the insecurity, sometimes the cowardice of Ismael.
Perhaps this film is an ode to Nicole Garcia’s unfading beauty. And indeed, Matilda, although she personifies in the picture the sadness and despondency that old age brings, is still beautiful. She suffers beautifully, falls beautifully in love with Ismael, runs after him perfectly across the train station, is perfectly embarrassed and also perfectly allows herself a little happiness. It may not be her best role, but playing love at almost 70 is not an easy task that Nicole Garcia coped with perfectly.
So, watch "Gar du Nord" is worth it, if your mood is not spoiled by anything, you are a big fan of Nicole Garcia or with the train stations you have some special memories. Claire Simon will tell you how tragic can be casual encounters, and life without love – nonsense and fuss.
5 out of 10