ARI
(director/writer: Leonor Serraille; cinematographer: Sebastien Buchmann; editor: Clemence Carre; cast: Andranic Manet (Ari), Clemence Coullon (Irene), Mikael Don Giancarli (gardener), Pascal Reneric (Ari’s father Gerard), Theo Delezenne (Jonas), Ryad Ferrad (Ryad), Eva Lallier (Clara), Lomane de Dietrich (Aurore), Clyde Yeguete (Clyde), Claire Bodson (L’inspectrice scolaire); Runtime: 88; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Sandra da Fonseca, Gregoire Debailly; Geko Films; 2025-France/Belgium, in French with English subtitles)
”Brilliant manic performance by Manet.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
French filmmaker Leonor Serraille (“Jeune Femme”/”Mother and Son”) directs and writes this appealing realistic character study on a teacher who needs to grow up and find himself. Its story has an organic flow, an easy-going biting dialogue, and even if it seems that the film has nothing much happening in it, it packs an emotional punch along with a tantalizing lyrical tone
The high-strung Ari (Andranic Manet) is a 27-year-old who doesn’t quite understand his place in the world. He works in a primary school as a teacher-in-training with little kids. During a visit to his class by a school inspector, he collapses while teaching the inattentive class poetry. That embarrassing incident causes him to see a doctor, who advises he take a leave of absence. Ari then quits, realizing this might not be a good profession for him. Meanwhile his disapproving father (Pascal Reneric) asks him to leave the house.
Facing an uncertain future, he reluctantly seeks help from old friends he’s lost contact with. He reunites to no avail with his high-strung ex-girlfriend Irene (Clemence Coullon) and finds again the obnoxious rich kid (Theo Delezenne), who nevertheless lets him use for free his spare apartment.
Despite his character flaws, the compassionate Ari has a way of dealing intimately with people.
While Ari wanders aimlessly around town, he searches for a meaningful existence. He struggles in his relationships and to find a place he can possibly fit in.
It’s a rather enjoyable wacky coming-of-age film, with the directionless protagonist rightly or wrongly thinking no one he meets has figured out things better than he has–since he meets no one who is perfect or doesn’t have some problems.
The visuals are enhanced by the intimate shots by DP Sebastien Buchmann, who used a 16mm film camera. Also by the brilliant manic performance by Manet.
It played at the Berlin Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 2/26/2025 GRADE: B
dennisschwartzreviews.com