Ben Oliver

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film

Annette

We love each other so much.
06 November 2021

An opera singer (Marion Cotillard) marries a comedian (Adam Driver) and has a child, Annette.

‘Features music by Sparks’ is an understatement, this is effectively a Sparks-written musical (or perhaps anti-musical) where people sing more than they speak. This paired with Leos Carax’s avant-garde style makes Annette a true one-off.

In spite of this, it’s not one I got on with too well beyond the wonderful first 15 minutes. It’s a mish-mash of ideas and emotions that leans heavily on its esoteric music and general weirdness to fill its run-time.

A bold experiment I’m glad I saw and I’m glad got made, but not one I’m in a hurry to revisit.

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