In The House
Starring: Fabrice Luchini, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ernst Umhauer
Director: Francois Ozon
Rating: 4/5
We last saw Francois Ozon in the director’s chair when he helmed the fantastic Potiche and this week he is back with another fascinating film In The House.
The movie has already won over audiences on the festival circuit and been a hit in France and now it is time for UK film fans to enjoy this movie.
A sixteen-year-old boy insinuates himself into the house of a fellow student from his literature class and writes about it in essays for his French teacher.
Faced with this gifted and unusual pupil, the teacher rediscovers his enthusiasm for his work, but the boy's intrusion will unleash a series of uncontrollable events.
This is an incredibly intriguing movie that blurs the lines between what is real and what is a story as well as balancing comedic and intellectual elements incredibly effectively.
Fabrice Luchini is terrific in the central role of Germain, a teacher who has lost his desire to educate until he meets aspiring writer Claude.
You would not know that the role of Claude is only the second big screen outing for youngster Ernst Umhauer as he gives a commanding and confident performance.
The character of Claude is a mix of childlike qualities of wanted his work to be given the approval of Germain as well as having a dark and rather manipulative side to his character.
The relationship between Germain and Claude is also an interesting one as you never who is manipulating who and why they have an interest in this story or each other.
Kristin Scott Thomas is also terrific as she returns to French cinema once again with this movie.
The script is incredibly witty and sharp as well as being funny and, in parts, quite emotional and hard hitting.
In The House is a bold movie that mixes reality with storytelling in a way that is totally intriguing. Director Francois Ozon does this with such confidence that this is one of his best movies to date.
In The House is out now.
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