Sac de noeuds
1985 Comedy / Drama
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Credits
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Summary
Alone and penniless, a middle-aged woman Anita is about to commit suicide when another
woman, Rose, suddenly takes refuge in her apartment. Rose is pursued by her brutal
husband, a policeman, who ends up being knocked unconscious and stabbed in the ensuing
struggle. Believing the policeman to be dead, Rose and Anita go on the run, resorting
to prostitution and violence to acquire transport. On their way, they meet up with
Rico, a young criminal who has just unwittingly escaped from police custody. Rico
rejoins the two rebellious women after he is raped by a man who gave him a lift and accompanies
them on their journey.
Review
Sac de noeuds marks the directorial debut for
Josiane Balasko, a comic actress who had made a big name for herself in the 1970s and
1980s, appearing in such cult comic films as
Les Bronzés (1978) and
Le Père Noël est une ordure
(1982). Usually, the subject of Balsko’s films reflects her own comic style
– brash, vulgar and darkly satirical – and Sac
de noeuds is, whilst not her best film, typical of her approach to comedy.
Whilst Sac de noeuds has a number of very funny set pieces and some respectable visual jokes, it is a strange kind of comedy that Balasko presents us with. It might be called “social comedy” (as opposed to “social drama”), in which the plight of ordinary women is caricatured without losing sight of the reality experienced by many vulnerable women. The style is certainly original but the film is less well thought out than Balsako’s later films, and the odd mix of black comedy and road movie often appears muddled and directionless. In particular, the character Rico doesn’t seem to fit alongside the two lead women characters; his entry and exit in the film are botched and what he does in between is largely predictable. By contrast, it’s a treat to see Isabelle Huppert playing an obviously comical character with maturity and depth. Unfortunately, her presence in this film is largely overwhelmed by a very silly, rambling plot and Josiane Balasko’s extraordinary screen presence. © James Travers 2005 Write a review for this film... |
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