«The Circle», a bad script for a good theme

Cinema Wednesdays - Jonas Follonier

A partner section of Cinérevue, NeuchVox's film program. Next live broadcast: Monday August 7, 2017, 8:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Mae (the beautiful Emma Watson) lives a rather unhappy life. Her job as a call center in an insurance company joins the pity she feels for her father, who suffers from multiple sclerosis. Suddenly, everything lights up when a friend lands her an interview for a position with a large multinational. She's hired.

This is the beginning of a series of scenes showing the extent of the campus, its atmosphere and its codes. Mae discovers the charisma of Bailey (Tom Hanks), the director of The Circle, and is drawn into the community, becoming the company's most devoted guinea pig. But the seemingly democratic ambitions of this American technology giant soon turn into a totalitarian nightmare.

The theme could not be more topical and interesting. The cast is obviously promising. But the paucity and naivety of the screenplay unfortunately bring the whole film down. Manichean from start to finish, James Ponsoldt's feature film relays the discussions you hear in the café du commerce. There are two opposing camps: on the one hand, the evil bosses of Google and Facebook; on the other, people covered in common sense who distrust screens and advocate a return to nature.

If there is to be criticism, it must be nuanced and honest. This criticism must take place. Le Cercle had a boulevard ahead of it, but a cast of good actors and a compelling theme alone don't make a good film. You need a sense of the complexity of the debate, but also of the psychology of the characters. There are no surprises or originality to be found in the film's slapdash direction. A pity.

All the more so because - if we had to pick out one positive element from the film - the importance of the private sphere comes across very well in this story. Transparency at all costs is not a virtue, but a vice. Without doubt one of the greatest vices of our time. However, we mustn't throw everything away and overlook the progress that technology has brought us. Our salvation does not lie in the canoe kayak, whether the scriptwriters like it or not.

Write to the author: jonas.follonier@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © avoir-alire.com