Indie Gems: Partisan

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Just say "no" to communes.

Alexander (Jeremy Chabriel) is an 11 year old boy living in a commune. The leader, Gregori (Vincent Cassel) seems charismatic and loving enough, however what he uses the children for is anything but. As Alexander grows older, he begins to question the way he's grown up and soon Gregori notices.

This film is a slow burn, but the dread it builds is quietly intense. Cults never go smoothly, and once it's shown what Gregori is training these kids to do, you get the sense that something is about to go very wrong, you just don't know when. It was shot in Georgia (though the location in the film is never mentioned) and characters speak in multiple accents. It gives a very ambiguous feel that works well.

I love Cassel, I could watch this guy in anything. Chabriel, while he doesn't get the opportunity to show a lot of range, his curiosity is evident in his eyes. 

Grade: B

Memorable Quote: "I don't want to talk about them anymore." - Susanna (Florence Mezzara)

Comments

  1. BirgitJanuary 15, 2016 at 11:22 AM

    Sounds like a disturbing film especially with ISIS in such a hold on the young

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 16, 2016 at 7:01 AM

      Commune/cult films are disturbing, though the psychology part of it is interesting. This isn't too bad though, it's a very good film.

      Delete
  2. Angela NiteJanuary 15, 2016 at 3:46 PM

    I went to a Q&A screening of this film! I loved it, I loved the cinematography, the child perspective, the story. Its one of the my favourite Aussie films of the year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 16, 2016 at 7:00 AM

      I'm glad you liked it too! I just happened to upon a review of this somewhere and threw it in my Netflix queue. I hadn't heard of it before that.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 16, 2016 at 6:37 PM

    This sounds intriguing and incredibly bleak. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2016 at 2:51 PM

    Never heard of this. Now I want to see it ASAP!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 20, 2016 at 6:48 AM

      Yay! I hope you like it when you get the chance to see it.

      Delete
  5. JoshFebruary 3, 2016 at 3:59 AM

    I forgot about this. I need to give it a look, as I'm dying to nominate Cassel for something. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamFebruary 3, 2016 at 7:07 AM

      He's great. Also another great performance by a child this year.

      Delete

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