Second round

Albert Dupontel, a virtuoso of the 7th art

At a time when French cinema is often hard to convince, and seems to be moving towards either a very commercial and hardly original form, or towards what interests us more an independent form, the troublemaker and virtuoso that is the all-round artist Albert Dupontel continues to surprise us with each of his films, and to move away from pure and often regressive comedy towards a more mature cinema, constantly aiming right. His eighth film, Second Tour, is one of self-assumed maturity, crossing political thriller, social drama and comedy with particular care, clearly visible on screen. 

Albert Dupontel has undoubtedly created a real cinematic family for himself, and in addition to his fellow actor Nicolas Marié, he is joined on screen by Jackie Berroyer, David Marsais and others. It's also interesting to note that in each of his films he collaborates with an excellent actress, whether in the past Helene Vincent, Catherine Frot, Sandrine Kiberlain, Emilie Dequenne, Virginie Efira or here Cécile De France. Like a painter who painstakingly draws a picture and lets his gift for painting shine through, Albert Dupontel builds his film with meticulous care, not only in his writing, casting and impeccable direction, but also by remaining faithful to the themes that are close to his heart. 

Second Tour moves away from classic comedy towards a political thriller, but also from what should be the duty of a good journalist: not to highlight certain artistic, political or economic personalities, but to constantly seek to serve the truth and inform the public, even if it means losing one's place by preferring to maintain one's professional ethics rather than oversell the merits of this or that person. The film follows the political career of Pierre-Henry Mercier (Albert Dupontel), who is between two rounds of voting, and that of a disgraced political journalist, Mlle Pove (Cecile de France), who has taken over the soccer column and is supported by her assistant, Nicolas Marié. The paths of these three characters become intertwined when Mlle Pove is asked to follow the presidential campaign between the two rounds and interview Pierre-Henry Mercier. She sees this as a way of regaining her lost prestige and putting her sharp analysis of the political world into practice.

Whereas Adieu les cons (Bye Bye Morons) was a wacky comedy, Second tour takes a more serious tone and, above all, allows Albert Dupontel to deliver his vision of the political world and once again highlight themes close to his heart. At a time when many directors seem obliged to follow pre-established rules laid down by their production studios, Albert Dupontel continues, to our great delight, to proudly assert his freedom of expression and to make films that are close to his heart. In his new film, Dupontel's passion for cinema is evident (the film is dedicated to Jean Paul Belmondo and Bertrand Tavernier, among others), as he not only pays a vibrant tribute to a cult Belmondo film, but also reminds us of the importance of saving our planet for future generations, and of the importance of politicians' programs, when most of them are nothing more than puppets in the hands of major financial industrialists. 

And so, once again, Second Tour turns its attention to acerbic social criticism of society's norms and structures. It frequently explores issues such as inequality, injustice and the dehumanizing effects of modern society. Here again, through dark humor and satire, he encourages audiences to question the status quo and reflect on the shortcomings of the world we live in. The importance of respecting nature, fighting pesticides and protecting our environment takes center stage here. Similarly, Albert Dupontel is known for his penchant for the absurd and black humor, which he uses to tackle serious subjects. His films often feature unconventional narratives and situations that push the boundaries of conventional storytelling. He uses humor as a tool to tackle difficult subjects and provoke a sense of reflection or unease in the audience. In this way, Second Tour seamlessly blends tragedy and comedy, creating a genre known as tragicomedy. His characters are often confronted with dark circumstances or existential dilemmas, and their journey is marked by a mixture of laughter and sadness. With this approach, Dupontel perfectly explores the human condition and the absurdities of life.

As in his previous films, Albert Dupontel shows that his main characters, as here again, seek redemption and empathy. Highlighting the potential for human connection and compassion, even in the face of adversity, he once again invites viewers to reflect on the transformative power of empathy and the possibilities for personal development. He relies on the presence of Cécile de France in one of her best roles in a long time, but also confirms that Nicolas Marié is a gifted comedian capable of both making us laugh and moving us.  Second Tour is one of his best films, and the time he spent on stage performing sketches has given him a perfect sense of rhythm and the importance of excellent dialogue, with many of his lines gaining cult status.

Albert Dupontel understood from his first film that to illustrate strong themes you need not only an excellent script, but also a truly distinct visual style characterized by dynamic camerawork, inventive cinematography and, above all, striking imagery. Here again, he uses imaginative and surreal elements to enhance the narrative and arouse strong emotions in the audience. His new film also allows him to tackle the use of special effects to make certain important scenes believable. Not only present in front of the camera in one of the lead roles, he is also present behind the camera, constantly seeking to innovate and take risks. Far from confining himself, as many directors do, to the absence of risk-taking, he not only darkens the tone of his film here, but above all shows that, after having received three César awards (best screenplay, best direction and best film), he refuses to accept simplicity and has a gift for storytelling that has nothing to envy the greatest American directors. We can already bet on an excellent public and critical reception, hailing him quite simply as one of France's finest directors. For our part, we applauded the film and look forward to seeing it again when it is released in France on October 25.

Secound round
Written and directed by Albert Dupontel
Produced by Catherine Bozorgan                              
Starring Albert Dupontel, Cécile De France, Nicolas Marié
Director of photography: Julien Poupard
Production companies: ADCB Films, Manchester Films, Pathé
Distributed by Pathé
Release date: October 25, 2023 (France)
Running time: 95 minutes

Seen June 9, 2023 at Gaumont Disney Village, room 3 

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