When you finish saving the world

We no longer need to introduce the excellent actor Jesse Eisenberg, who is equally at ease in numerous blockbusters and independent films. Like many actors before him, Jesse Eisenberg goes behind the camera for the needs of his first film that he also wrote When you finish saving the world. A familiar and social drama not devoid of a certain humor and brocading the singers of the Youtube platform more or less talented

Evelyn (Julianne moore) has dedicated her life to helping others in need in a self-help center, but she can't communicate with her son Ziggy (Finn Wolfhard), a young singer who lives only for his fans on social networks and ignores the problems of the world that some of his schoolmates are concerned about. 

Upon discovering this film we will wonder if this film does not have a biographical part and a way for the director to pay tribute to his own mother. Behind this satire of an American youth who for the most part seems to be out of touch with the current world but swears by social networks to build a certain fame, the director seems to take a malicious pleasure in proposing a film much closer.

When you finish saving the world shows that everything is a question of point of view and that excess is not good. Whether it is this mother who finds in the center she manages a substitute son even if it means becoming too invasive or her son who only thinks about his own interests and can't convince the girl he is in love with, these two people will have to take a step towards each other to rebuild a real mother-son relationship. 

Of course, we would have liked this first film to be a bit more satirical and to have a more sustained rhythm. Nevertheless, for a first film, Jesse Eisenberg does well and has a real gift for sketching the psychology of his characters and giving enough material to his actors so that they can give their best.

When you finish saving the world
Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg
Based on When You Finish Saving the World by Jesse Eisenberg
Produced by Dave McCary, Emma Stone, Ali Herting
Starring Julianne Moore, Finn Wolfhard, Alisha Boen Jay O. Sanders, Eleonore Hendricks
Music by Emile Mosseri
Cinematography : Benjamin Loeb
Edited by Sara Shaw
Production companies : Fruit Tree
Distributed by A24
Release date : January 20, 2022 (Sundance)
Running time : 88 minutes

Seen on September 4, 2022 at the Deauville international center

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