Written and directed by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano, in 1985 suburban Paris, 12-year-old Vincent lives with his distant older brother and quarrelling parents. Amid laughter and unease, he navigates friendship and first love, while beginning to confront the adult world. Starring: Louis Garrel, Camille Cottin, Simon Boublil, Alexis Rosenstiehl, Pierre Lottin and Jeanne Lamartine.
Straight away there’s a very familiar style to Just an Illusion, you can feel that Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano are attempting to tap into that pre-2000s school of family film. Something that’s for all ages, not only adults, and can dip into bigger themes but is ultimately about serving a warm message about family, life and love. It also definitely feels like the film comes from a personal place, it’s handled with a lot of heartfelt attentions, and as if it’s an homage almost, perhaps to the filmmakers’ own childhoods.
With that style comes a lot of classic awkwardness of youth and so, so many family squabbles. In fact, probably too many arguments, there’s a lot of typical marital troubles coming from fragile masculinity and women’s lack of freedoms and struggle to move up the ladder. All of which are relevant topics to its 1980s setting, but when you add that to the quintessential brother vs brother fighting, it gets a bit much. It takes too much of Just an Illusion’s focus, not leaving it with enough space to build more captivating layers or obstacles.
However, it definitely does improve as time goes on, its final few scenes are much stronger work. While the quality of its aesthetic (with cinematography from Augustin Barbaroux) is nicely consistent all throughout, and the direction is simple but solid, the actual quality and depth of the scenes really break out in its final chapter. It’s a shame not to see that happen sooner, and for it to build a more unique personality. It does occasionally dip its toes into a conversation about race and immigration, but unfortunately it doesn’t get very far.
Although, another element which is certainly consistent throughout is the performances. Simon Boublil makes for an excellent lead as Vincent, he really hits the nail on the head with his portrayal, the balance of curiosity, panic and desire is right on the money, and he’s easy to watch. Camille Cottin is wonderful as always and brings such charming, confident, steadfast yet warm qualities to the matriarch of this tale. Louis Garrel is always great at playing tightly wound, slightly misogynistic, judgemental characters so he just rolls right into this one. While Alexis Rosenstiehl perfectly captures an older brother, and Pierre Lottin was an excellent addition to add some variety.
Just an Illusion has a familiar family story to tell, it might not knock your socks off but it’s cute and a nice watch. There’s a great cast at work, it’s shot well, it doesn’t have a great deal of personality, but it is still engaging. Ultimately, it’s good, but it’s missing more individual, distinct qualities to make it stand out from the crowd. Also, if you’re not a fan of conflict, this probably isn’t for you since a good chunk of it is incessant arguing.
FilmCarnage.com 