'Va Savoir' beautifully depicts a play within a play

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By Kristina Stafford

Grade: B

"I really should calm down. I knew this would happen. It was coming. I should have said no, not a chance, not Paris. Even three years later, I can't."

This line is extracted from Camille (Jeanne Balibar), a lead role in the 2001 French film "Va Savoir" (translated as Who knows?). The romantic comedy is based in Paris, and follows the lives of three men and three women as they become intertwined through the short-lived run of a play.

Camille is an actress with an Italian company that is in Paris to perform a play by Pirandello, Come tu mi vuoi. Her boyfriend, Ugo (Sergio Castellitto) is the director and the company's most important actor.

While in Paris, Camille secretly meets her ex-boyfriend Pierre, a professor of philosophy, while Ugo secretly researches a supposedly lost play by Goldoni. In the archives, Ugo is aided by the amiable student Do (Hélène de Fougerolles), who he ultimately falls for. The plot is further complicated by Do's stepbrother Arthur, a playwright, who steals a pricy ring from Pierre's wife Sonia.

If the twisted, dramatic plot doesn't seem interesting enough, the cinematography, direction, and brilliant performances by the leading actors carry this film to greatness. The director, Jacques Rivette, does a masterful job of defining the relationships between the characters and bringing the vivid story to life. Meanwhile, the cinematography serves as a beautiful tribute to the Paris countryside.

Jeanne Balibar's performance is artful, complex, and mature. I did find her portrayal cold and unemotional in the beginning; yet looking back, I believe her coldness was intentional and as the film progresses, she is revealed as a complicated and mysterious character.

The film is rather long (154 minutes) and it could have probably been edited down to about two hours. The dialogue does get wordy and drawn out at times, which is why I gave this film a B instead of an A. Though, there is enough going on to keep the average viewer engaged for the length of the movie.

Va Savoir is a stunning portrayal of a play inside a play, with superb acting and some outrageous plot twists. This romantic comedy shows French culture, theatre culture, and interpersonal relationships through its long and winding plot.

Originally Published: Issue 863 - February 3, 2010

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