Film with Gijs Naber makes little impression in Cannes | Movie

entertainment">Trade magazine Variety typifies Gijs Naber’s acting as ‘recessive’ (withdrawn), while the reviewer of The Hollywood Reporter attributed to him ‘the charisma of a piece of wreckage’. His opponent Lea Seydoux is treated less harshly. However, director Ildikó Enyedi also gets it in writing.

entertainment">Met The story of my wife Enyedi returned to the festival that produced her first film My 20th century in 1989 awarded the Camera d’Or for the best debut. Five years ago, the Hungarian filmmaker won with the magical realistic On body and soul the Golden Bear in Berlin and was also nominated for an Oscar. In addition, her new film is the adaptation of a book by the celebrated Hungarian writer Milán Füst.

‘Too long’

entertainment">Enough reasons for high expectations, but that was clearly not met in Cannes. Enyedi’s historical costume drama, set in the 1930s, may look very well cared for, but the story doesn’t keep up the momentum after a brisk start. Partly because the English dialogues often seem unnatural, partly because the events seem to repeat themselves over and over.

entertainment">In the international production Gijs Naber plays a Dutch sea captain who takes a wife on the advice of his ship’s cook. When he tells a friend in a chic café about this, he jokingly swears that he will marry the first woman who walks in. When that turns out to be the beautiful Lizzy (Lea Seydoux), he tends to keep his word. Amused by the wild plan, she goes along with it.

entertainment">However, their relaxed attitude at the beginning of their marriage soon changes. The captain is increasingly consumed with jealousy. He suspects his wife of infidelity, but can’t catch her. In this way a cat and mouse game unfolds that is long drawn out, over several chapters.

entertainment">Variety concludes that Lea Seydoux also fails to keep this ‘weighty historical film’ afloat. The Hollywood Reporter calls the film too long and states that Ildikó Enyedi’s own voice is not only muffled by her new film, but that it The story of my wife even what sounds stale. The coveted Golden Palm does not seem within reach.

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