Beating Hearts

Gilles Lellouche's Beating Hearts, adapted from Neville Thompson's novel Jackie Loves Johnser OK? (1997), is a sprawling melodrama that aims for an epic love story set against a backdrop of crime and violence in northern France. With a running time of 160 minutes, Lellouche and co-writers Julien Lambroschini, Audrey Diwan and Ahmed Hamidi recount the tumultuous and tragic relationship between two characters, Jackie and Clotaire, played at different stages of their lives by Mallory Wanecque, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Malik Frikah and François Civil. Although the film is ambitious in its scope, it ultimately stumbles under the weight of its own excesses and excessive style, leaving the audience with a hollow experience despite the vibrant performances and technical prowess on display.

The film opens with a convincing introduction to Jackie, a headstrong high-school girl, and Clotaire, a rebellious thug, who meet during their adolescence in the 1980s. Jackie, raised by her widowed father, played by Alain Chabat, after the tragic death of her mother, crosses paths with Clotaire, an unstable young man from a working-class background. Clotaire's father, played by Karim Leklou, works at a local oil refinery, a detail that plays a central role in the plot. Their initial connection is fueled by mutual challenge and attraction, leading to a romance that seems electric in the first half of the film. The performances of teenagers Mallory Wanecque and Malik Frikah are standouts, capturing the carefree passion of first love with a raw energy that promises a captivating journey. However, as the film progresses, that initial spark fades, particularly as the narrative moves into the more lethargic second half.

After Clotaire has been incarcerated for a decade - he's responsible for a botched robbery orchestrated by a gang led by La Brosse (Benoit Poelvoorde)- he emerges from prison a hardened man. Jackie, meanwhile, has married a controlling yuppie, Jeffrey, played by Vincent Lacoste, and seems trapped in a life without love. Clotaire's descent into violence and crime after prison, as he forms his own gang, seems clichéd, and despite François Civil's commitment to playing an adult Clotaire, the character loses much of the complexity he hinted at in his youth. The evolution, or rather stagnation, of Jackie is equally unconvincing, with Adèle Exarchopoulos struggling to inject nuance into a role that reduces her to a passive figure reacting to the whims of the men around her. The chemistry between the adult versions of the characters is sorely lacking, undermining the emotional weight of their reunion and the supposedly indestructible nature of their love.

Technically, Beating Hearts excels in its visual and aural elements. Laurent Tangy's cinematography is stunning, with sweeping shots of industrial landscapes and meticulously choreographed action sequences, including a remarkable dance scene early in the film to The Cure's “A Forest”, which captures the characters' youthful exuberance. The film's soundtrack is loaded with 80s hits, further enhancing the nostalgic atmosphere that pervades the first half of the film. Yet, despite these aesthetic triumphs, the film feels disjointed, its over-reliance on style detracting from the substance of its narrative. Lellouche seems more interested in dazzling audiences with flashy images and intense melodrama than in crafting a coherent, emotionally resonant story.

One of the film's most glaring weaknesses is its narrative structure. The decision to divide the film into two distinct parts - one focusing on the characters' adolescence and the other on their adult lives - creates a shift in tone that disrupts the flow of the story. The first half, while imperfect, has a certain charm in its depiction of youthful rebellion and romance, but the second half gets bogged down in tired criminal tropes and an overlong running time that tests the viewer's patience. The pace slows, with unnecessary subplots and overlong scenes that add little to the overall narrative. By the time the film reaches its climax, the emotional impact is blunted, leaving the audience disengaged.

Beating Hearts also struggles to portray its central characters. While the film presents Clotaire as a tragic anti-hero, his arc lacks the depth and nuance to make him truly compelling. His transformation from troubled youth to hardened criminal seems rushed, and the film's attempts to humanize him through his relationship with Jackie ring hollow. Similarly, Jackie's character is frustratingly underdeveloped. Her transition from feisty, independent teenager to apathetic adult trapped in a loveless marriage is unconvincing, and her motivations remain obscure throughout. The secondary characters, notably Benoît Poelvoorde's La Brosse and Vincent Lacoste's Jeffrey, are one-dimensional and serve only to advance Clotaire's and Jackie's plots.

Despite its many flaws, Beating Hearts is not without merit. Gilles Lellouche's direction, though sometimes excessive, showcases his talent for creating visually arresting scenes. The exploration of themes such as love, loyalty and the impact of time on relationships is poignant, even if the execution leaves something to be desired. The performances of the young actors - particularly Mallory Wanecque and Malik Frikah - are remarkable, infusing the film with a youthful vitality that carries it through its dullest moments. The film's ambition is commendable, and although it doesn't live up to its potential, one senses that Lellouche is a filmmaker with a distinct voice, even if that voice is still finding its feet.

Beating Hearts is a film that bites off more than it can chew. Its sprawling narrative and exaggerated sense of grandeur make for a frustrating film that hints at moments of brilliance but never achieves them. Gilles Lellouche has crafted a visually dazzling but emotionally hollow epic that will likely leave audiences divided. For those willing to overlook its narrative flaws, Beating Hearts offers a spectacle of style and ambition, but for others, it may seem like a missed opportunity to tell a truly captivating love story.

Beating Hearts
Directed by Gilles Lellouche
Produced by Alain Attal, Hugo Sélignac
Written by Gilles Lellouche, Ahmed Hamidi, Audrey Diwan, based on the work by Neville Thompson
Starring Adèle Exarchopoulos, François Civil, Mallory Wanecque, Malik Frikah, Alain Chabat, Benoît Poelvoorde, Vincent Lacost, Jean-Pascal Zadi, Élodie Bouchez, Karim Leklou, Raphaël Quenard, Anthony Bajon, Emmanuel Dehaene, Nicolas Wanczycki
Music by Jon Brion
Cinematography : Laurent Tangy
Edited by Simon Jacquet
Production companies : Trésor Films, CHI-FOU-MI Productions, Artémis Productions, Shelter Prod
Distributed by StudioCanal (France)
Release date : October 16, 2024 (France)
Running time : 160 minutes

Seen on October 13, 2024 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room 3 place A19

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