Some cinematic experiences are difficult to grasp, or even to define, as in the case of Pacifiction: Tourment sur les Îles, by Spanish filmmaker Albert Serra. The film, starring Benoît Magimel in the title role, was awarded the César for Best Actor and Best Cinematography.
Shot on location in Tahiti, the film follows French High Commissioner De Roller, played by Magimel, who represents the French state in French Polynesia. When rumors of a resumption of French nuclear testing in the region arise, he sets out to investigate whether the rumors are true.
Despite this synopsis, which is maintained throughout the film, this is not what Pacifiction is about. The content isn't nearly as important as the form, and what a form it is! The (very) long film is a 2:45-hour stroll through a dreamy Tahitian setting. The atmosphere is timeless, and the film could have come straight out of the 1960s. The screenplay opens up a number of avenues for reflection, but you get the feeling that this isn't really what interests the filmmaker most, as the form is particularly bewitching. The scenes are slow, haunting, but never boring, and to summarize Pacifiction by its synopsis would be to do it a disservice.
It's a demanding, sometimes trying experience, and may leave many viewers on the sidelines, but those who are touched by the film will experience a moment of cinema the likes of which they've rarely experienced.
November 2024 cinema releases: Films and times near you
Discover all the films in theaters in November 2024 with showtimes near you. Don't miss a single movie! [Read more]
Average duration
2 h
45 min
November 2024 cinema releases: Films and times near you
