Official Selection: Competition - review - ALL YOURS (Je suis à toi) by David Lambert
The ever growing gap between sexual fantasies and real human relationships is becoming an always greater preoccupation in today’s modern cinema. Within this context, Lambert’s latest work All Yours can be seen as one that aims to knock down more safety barriers. The film was presented in the official competition at the 49th edition of the Karlovy Vary international film festival.
This is the story of an almost middle aged corpulent Belgian baker Henry (Jean-Michel Balthazar) who supports both financially and emotionally a young Argentinian male’s move to his house to become his partner as well as his baking apprentice. Unfortunately for Michel, he soon discovers that living with the young Argentinian is not at all as sweet as he would have thought. Making matters worse on an emotional level, his lovebird gets relentlessly closer to a young female shop assistant who works in his bakery.
The thematic key to this film’s success is its exploration of loneliness. This is the thing that most makes the three leading characters, very different in their own nature, so similar in pursuing their need for companionship. It is also true that the film makes use of many elements that recall an unlikely slapstick and screwball comedy of all and this is particularly true when considering that the two leading ale characters are so reminiscent of Laurel and Hardy.
Nevertheless, it is also these dark elements that widely and prominently seek to take viewers out of their comfort zones. This is even implied right from the start, with sex webcam clips of the young male inviting anyone to call him over to live with them.
All Yours is simply shot and coldly lit, yet surprises the viewer with some moments of cinematic poetry that embellish the film in a somewhat unexpected way. For instance, a scene where Henry dances and sings an operetta while he bakes so passionately comes is delightfully cartoonish and bizarrely appealing - much like most of the film.
It is also true, however, that with All Yours Lambert seeks an overall realistic approach that unfortunately sometimes gives into over indulgent and even unnecessary plot developments that may test an individual’s patience.