A Frank Review of "Happenstance" (Le Battement D'ailes du Papillon, 2001)

The Short Version? The Butterfly Effects.
What Is It? Foreign Comedy.
Who's In It? Audrey Tautou.
Should I See It? Yes.

In reading other reviews for the French film Le Battement D'ailes du Papillon ("The Beating of the Butterfly's Wing,") I've seen a lot of mention of chaos theory and consideration of whether or not it qualifies as a romantic comedy. I think some folks may have missed the point. Let me explain.

Irène (Tautou) is a depressed shop girl who is assigned a fate while riding on the subway one morning. Seeing as Irène, despite reservations, passively allows life to wash over her, destiny is likely to play out as planned. From there, the movie pulls back to gaze at dozens of lives at varying degrees of separation from Irène's. It isn't that the movie is about Irène (Tautou appears in a fraction of the film's 90 minutes,) it merely begins with her, and uses her as a sort of control. Everyone else in the movie is going on with their lives; the negligible acts of one person having massive impact on the life of another. However, these acts are not truly random, but part of a grand scheme, likely authored by divine hands (and specifically, a mysterious figure who appears twice on screen.)

Of even greater consideration is a speech given by a coffee house keeper, who subscribes to the very western conception of "instant karma." Basically, what you put out into the world, negative or positive, revisits you. Embodying loving kindness doesn't make your world one filled with incense and butterflies-- a little rain must fall-- but each person either makes an effort to consider others and preserve themselves, or else suffer cosmic judgments. "Happenstance" is not just about recognizing that life is both completely random and outside your control, but also redirected by every minute stimulus to an ultimately deliberate effect. The matter is left somewhat up to the viewer to decide, and yet not-- a contrary beast.

So by that standard, you can't really presume to definition the picture, at least not objectively. It features elements of a quirky romantic comedy, but it's still rather dry and matter-of-fact. You can project sentimentality upon it, or see it as a coolly clinical exploration of a notion. Happenstance doesn't exist in a vacuum, instead relying on the audience to meet it half way. You can allow each scene to pass through your eyes, taking it at surface value, or you can engage its myriad characters and complex structure-- working out the meaning and causality. With a bit of patience, it can be anything you want it to be, and for my part, its a pleasure to view.

Underlining Meaningful Passages In My Copy Of The Qur'an: Sūrah 2.40-48

Sūrah 2.40-48: "O Children of Israel! Call to mind the favor which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your covenant with Me as I fulfill My covenant with you, and fear none but me. And believe in what I reveal, confirming the revelation which is with you, and be not the first to reject faith, nor sell My signs for a pittance, and fear me and me alone. And cover not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth when you know it. And be steadfast in prayer, practice regular chastity, and bow down your heads with those who bow down. Do you compel righteous conduct on the people, and forget to expect the same of yourself, yet still study the scripture? Will you not understand? No, seek Allah's help with patient perseverance and prayer. It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a humble spirit-- who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord, and that they are to return to Him. O Children of Israel! Call to mind the favor which I bestowed upon you, and that I preferred you to all others. Then guard yourselves against a day when one soul shall not avail another, nor shall intercession be accepted for her, nor shall compensation be taken from her, nor shall anyone be helped from without.

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"Emanuelle Nera (Black Emanuelle)" by Bulldog

Here's the title music from the 1975 Emanuelle Nera soundtrack, performed by Bulldog, and composed by Nico Fidenco.

A Frank Review of "Syriana" (2005)

The Short Version? Oil companies are evil, though the Middle East would still suck without them.
What Is It? Drama.
Who's In It? George Clooney, Matt Damon
Should I See It? No.

This was not a good movie. This was like the political equivalent of a two-hour sermon, and not one of those Reverend James Brown/Jake Blues doing cartwheels in the ailes Protestant numbers. I'm talking Southern Baptist tent revival/snake handling/CBN broadcaster/too-lefty for Michael Moore kind of end-times prophesying. It was like watching one of those self-important downer 70's movies, without ongoing social revolutions to justify it. George Clooney is wonderfully low key and tubby for most of the film, but he breaks character twice for ClooneyCool moments that took me right outta the pitcher. Matt Damon is serviceable, Amanda Peet is distracting, and the Islamic subplot stars a cipher. Pretty much anyone interested in seeing this movie has chosen their sides with regards to the issues it tackles, so the whole affair seems pointless. It's very dry, you see.

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