Effacer l'historique

Discovering a film written and directed by the duo Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern often comes down to finding a world apart in which the underprivileged are put forward and our consumer society pointed out for its too many imperfections and for not leaving the same chances for everyone to have access to a pleasant life. After Aaltra (2004), Avida (2006), Louise-Michel (2008), Mammuth (2010), Le Grand Soir (2012), Near Death Experience (2014), Saint-Amour (2015) and I Feel Good (2018).

This time the two directors and screenwriters are not only tackling the internet but also the various addictions (be it to series or voices on the phone). They also take the opportunity to take a fair look at the lack of control of facebook and social networks on which videos can actually reach people and amount to moral harassment. Thus, we discover Marie (Blanche Gardin), victim of blackmail with a sextape filmed one evening too drunk by a blackmailer played by actor Vincent Lacoste, Bertrand (Denis Podalydès), whose daughter is harassed in high school, and Christine (Corinne Masiero), a VTC driver whose customers' grades are bad.

What is particularly appreciated in the films of Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern is that despite a certain success in the cinema, they continue to make the films they love freely and prefer to keep this independence rather than play with the rules dictated by studios that show above all the desire to make marketing products rather than true auteur films. Where political correctness continues to apply all too often in certain films, the two directors are not afraid of alienating certain giants of new communications. Whether it is by dryly criticizing Facebook, subscriptions seeking above all to make people pay a maximum of money to people who too often let themselves be manipulated in spite of themselves, or by strongly hitting on the slave-like side of certain professions such as delivery men (the scene with Benoit Poelvoorde is really worth discovering this film).

Erasing History also relies on an excellent main trio Blanche Gardin, Denis Podalydès, Corinne Masiero, but also on many second roles. Admittedly this casting makes us feel as if we have a succession of short scenes that may be too mechanical, but the dialogue is excellent and it's almost impossible to remain insensitive to this popular social comedy that doesn't lack spice.

Delete History
Written and Directed by Benoît Delépine, Gustave Kervern
Produced by Benoît Delépine, Gustave Kervern, Sylvie Pialat, Benoît Quainon
Starring Blanche Gardin, Denis Podalydès, Corinne Masiero, Vincent Lacoste, Benoît Poelvoorde, Bouli Lanners, Vincent Dedienne, Philippe Rebbot, Michel Houellebecq, Clémentine Peyricot, Lucas Mondher, Yolande Moreau, Denis O'Hare, Jackie Berroyer
Cinematography : Hugues Poulain
Edited by Stéphane Elmadjian
Production companies: Les films du Worso, No Money Productions
Distributed by Ad Vitam (France)

Seen on August 29, 2020 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room 7 seat A21

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