Comédie de l'innocence (Comedy of Innocence), 2000, Raúl Ruiz

Comédie de l'innocence (Comedy of Innocence)

Regie: Raúl Ruiz; Drehbuch: François Dumas, Raúl Ruiz nach dem Roman Il figlio di due madri von Massimo Bontempelli; Kamera: Jacques Bouquin; Schnitt: Mireille Hannon; Musik: Jorge Arriagada; Darsteller*innen: Isabelle Huppert, Jeanne Balibar, Charles Berling. FR, 2000, 35mm, Farbe, 103 min. Französisch mit engl. UT

The rules for children's etiquette are strict in the chambers of the Parisian bourgeoisie. So at first, it seems only like childish defiance against familial adultism when Camille, on his ninth birthday, stoically and firmly claims to be the son of another "Maman" under a different name. But the boy knows his way around her apartment on the other side of town incredibly well. Ruiz stages his ensemble piece, peppered with cinematic references, around the terrific duo of Huppert and Balibar (featuring Édith Skob in a mysterious co-starring role). And all this packaged in a dignified arthouse ambience, contrasted by the depths of the plot and pixelated video images from little Camille's camcorder. (S.H.)