La Ville Est Tranquille on DVD (2000)

A peaceful city

BIllJohnson from Leamington , 30/07/2004

The film centres on the life of a woman who works nights in the fish docks in Marseilles. She is married to an unemployed drunk, her daughter is a heroin addict who turns tricks for fixes. Associated with her are a taxi driver who cheats foreign tourists, a bar tender who supplies drugs and supports the far right. Also included are immigrant workers, ineffective left wing politicians, a piano playing juvenile who provides a tiny light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

This is a very worthy film but because the director, Robert Guediguian uses so many people and tries to examine so many problems his film?s impact is dissipated and ultimately not effective. Compare this film with say the films of Ken Loach (Kes, Riff Raff) who uses the problems of just one or two characters to focus attention on one particular social injustice rather than all the problems of an entire city all at once.

Read all reviews

Good but very depressing

A customer from London, England , 04/05/2005

A good film if a tad depressing. Set in Marseille the story is primarily based around a woman (Michelle)who struggles to hold her family together. Her daughter is addicted to heroin and has turned to prostitution to fund her habit so Michelle is forced to care for her her daughter's child, a baby of six months or so. There are numerous other characters and I think this is one of it's central weaknesses as at some points it seemed as if there was just too much going on and this weakend the otherwise excellent storyline based around Michelle. The film looks at issues such as racism, unemployment, worker rights and it seems as if the director wanted to explore as many social problems as possible. Overall I enjoyed this although I think with a running time of over 2hrs it was a bit long.

Read all reviews

Not the most uplifiting experience!

Steve Antill from Walsall, England , 27/07/2004

Set in Marseille, against a background of rising right wing politics and lowering job prospects Guediguian portrays a short period in the lives of a number of unrelated occupants of the town.

The main characters in the film include Michelle, whose daughter Fiona is struggling with heorin addiction, leaving her mother to deal with Ameline, her illegitimate child.

Michelle's path crosses that of taxi-driver Paul, made redundant from the docks, and struggling to make ends meet.

There are many other characters, and Guediguian does well to combines the plot elements and characters.

Whilst the film could in no way be described as light hearted, Guediguian manages to capture joy from the smallest act of kindness.

The film reaches a stunning climax - just don't watch it if you're already feeling low!

Read all reviews

Sarah#65 from MANCHESTER , 01/03/2004

The film centres on a number of characters and plot lines in the city of Marseilles. The film is beautifully shot and the sound track is also well chosen for effect. I love gritty dramas looking at the harsh realities of life (which this film does) but by trying to focus on so many different characters and subplots, it doesn't quite go deep enough into all the storylines affecting each character. The performances by Ariane Ascaride as Michele and Jean- Pierre Darroussin as Paul are worthy of praise, but the pace of the film was so slow and the way the stories were all linked seemed a little convenient but pointless. I got so fed up of the film I couldn''t wait for it to finish.

Read all reviews

Good but very depressing

A customer from London, England , 04/05/2005

A good film if a tad depressing. Set in Marseille the story is primarily based around a woman (Michelle)who struggles to hold her family together. Her daughter is addicted to heroin and has turned to prostitution to fund her habit so Michelle is forced to care for her her daughter's child, a baby of six months or so. There are numerous other characters and I think this is one of it's central weaknesses as at some points it seemed as if there was just too much going on and this weakend the otherwise excellent storyline based around Michelle. The film looks at issues such as racism, unemployment, worker rights and it seems as if the director wanted to explore as many social problems as possible. Overall I enjoyed this although I think with a running time of over 2hrs it was a bit long.

Read all highest rated reviews

Sarah#65 from MANCHESTER , 01/03/2004

The film centres on a number of characters and plot lines in the city of Marseilles. The film is beautifully shot and the sound track is also well chosen for effect. I love gritty dramas looking at the harsh realities of life (which this film does) but by trying to focus on so many different characters and subplots, it doesn't quite go deep enough into all the storylines affecting each character. The performances by Ariane Ascaride as Michele and Jean- Pierre Darroussin as Paul are worthy of praise, but the pace of the film was so slow and the way the stories were all linked seemed a little convenient but pointless. I got so fed up of the film I couldn''t wait for it to finish.

Read all highest rated reviews