«Carnivores»: you should have chewed a little more

Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFFF) - Hélène Lavoyer

Then there's Mona (Leïla Bekhti). Behind the scenes, she pursues her dream of becoming an actress with determination and courage. But then there's Sam (Zita Hanrot), her younger sister who one day, by chance, finds herself propelled onto the set of a renowned director. With roles passing her by and no money left over, Mona moves into the apartment of her sister and her husband (Bastien Bouillon), where they live with their child.

For a short time, Mona has the chance to observe her sister, live with her, and, ultimately, live for her. This is something their mother reproaches her for: «Why don’t you try taking care of yourself for once?» she tells her during a family meal. Eventually, after having been her sister’s mentor and having supported her in the difficult work of acting, Mona realizes that the child within her sister still reigns supreme. She becomes hysterical and mean, refusing any help when events prove harder to handle than she had anticipated.

After one final breakdown, the flamboyant Sam disappears without a trace or any clues. She runs away from what she’s built with Tom, from their child, and from her life as an actress. And little by little, Mona, still living in the apartment, builds a sense of stability and trust with them. But all good things must come to an end, and despite the pain caused by the loss of her sister, this balance is in danger of shattering upon her return. But when Mona goes to Spain to find her, she encounters a Sam who hasn’t changed at all—so she murders her and abandons her body in the woods, so she no longer has to suffer from her selfishness.

A Little Action

Screened at the NIFFF Open Air Festival, Set in Neuchâtel, this feature film by brothers Yannick and Jérémie Renier is a psychological thriller in every sense of the word. As we are drawn into the anticipation of an argument between Sam and Mona and the question of how long one will put up with being the other’s servant, the sisterly bond is explored in the background, and both the best and worst it has to offer are vividly portrayed on screen.

Yet something troubles the film lover—such as the melodrama that sometimes spills over the edge, as if tears and anguished faces were enough to create a plot. Likewise, the story—despite the quality of the performances by Leïla Bekhti, Zita Hanrot, and Bastien Bouillon—fails to raise questions, leaving the viewer merely observing and receiving something that their imagination cannot process.

It’s really the work that goes into the film before it’s screened—and especially the partnership between Yannick and Jérémie Renier—that gives Carnivores This is particularly interesting, since the two brothers made a film about the jealousy they experienced—as is common among siblings—which could have led them, too, to give in to their anger if they hadn’t each found their own roles.

So.., Carnivores The only thing that packs a punch is the dialogue. This is a film in which the art of filmmaking lies entirely in its slowness—a pace that many will complain about once the screening is over. After all, prolonging the wait for a predictable ending without offering anything substantial in between is nothing but procrastination. Ultimately, the screenplay feels lazy—which is a shame when you compare it to the actors’ performances, which are of the highest quality.

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Write to the author : helene.lavoyer@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © NIFFF