The last night of Tartuff love film festival

The first film of the night was Chico and Rita (2010) by three directors Trueba, Mariscal and Errando. It's an animated feature film about music, connecting a Cuban piano player and a beautiful latino singer.

The tale begins in 1940s Havana and follows both of the main characters careers throughout the years from Havana to New York and Las Vegas to Paris. All the locations and cities are beautifully drawn on with resemblance to reality and producing great cinematography. Graphically the film is superb. Even the nude are full of detail making it a definite adult cartoon. The tale also illustrates the peculiarity of the history of racism in the jazz era.

In the film various incidents and Rita’s excellent career opportunities tear the two apart. Over the years it is their love for music and each other that keeps Chico and Rita going. Their intriguing journeys throughout the film prove that their love is everlasting, even after being 48 years apart.  

As a whole the film combines an amazing story of jazz music and a passionate love story.

The festival’s last film was Cafe De Flore (2011) by a French-Canadian director Jean Marc Vallee. His previous films include the highly successful C.R.A.Z.Y.(2005) and the Young Victoria (2009).

The name "Cafe De Flore" is famous in many ways. According to the director his inspiration for the film was the clubbing hit and his own experience as a DJ.

I had mixed feelings throughout the film, from odd to melancholy. But it is the soundtrack that mellows the emotions in the film. The two separate love stories are portrayed in contemporary Canada and in 1960s Paris. In Canada, a handsome father of two and successful DJ Antoine (Kevin Parent) hits a mid-life crises. There is his wife whom he considers his soulmate and there is another younger women he falls for. While in Paris, Jacqueline, a single mum (Vanessa Paradis) is determined to raise her child, who has Down syndrom, to be as normal everyone else in the society.

About thought I kept thinking, where is the connection between these two love stories? On one hand, the film is confusing. On the other hand, the film's crosscuts and flashbacks add an intriguing twist. From a psychological angle it is interesting to observe the soulmates. Does the notion of soulmates exist or even last? At the same time Antoine’s mum Jacqueline tries to separate his son from Vero, a new girl from school also with Down syndrome. The children are inseparable since the moment they meet. Could they be soulmates at the age of six?

The tale becomes a mystery when the mother of Antoine’s daughters goes through a spiritual healing and connects with Jacqueline’s suffering in her dreams. Juxtaposing the heart break of the two women immerses the viewer in this emotional clash even more. However, there is light shining at the end of the tunnel, in the end they all let go. 

CAFE DE FLORE was RATED THE PUBLICS FAVOURITE FILM AT TARTUFF LOVE FILM FESTIVAL (2012)