Julien Leclercq's attempts to forge his own distinctive aesthetic with
his debut feature are compromised as much by his lack of experience as
by the budget at his disposal. Chrysalis
is a deeply flawed masterpiece, its breathtaking stylistic bravado
totally undercut by some inescapable failings on the writing and acting
fronts. Even with a lead actor as capable and charismatic as
Albert Dupontel the film struggles to hold itself together and swiftly
degenerates into a series of punchy action set-pieces separated by
unbearable longueurs. Leclercq's dark futuristic homage to Franju's Les Yeux sans visage makes
uncomfortable viewing but it reveals a director with considerable
flair, guts and imagination. Alas, the latter need to be tempered
by discipline, maturity and respect for his audience before Leclercq
can make any real impact as a cinematic innovator.
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Film Synopsis
Paris, 2020. David Hoffman is a police lieutenant who has yet to
get over the death of his wife, the victim of an elusive killer
named Nicolov. When another woman is found murdered, Hoffman is
teamed up with a young police inspector, Marie Becker. Their
investigation leads them to a technologically advanced clinic run by
Professor Brügen. The latter is prepared to do anything to
erase the damage caused by a car accident she was in with her
daughter...
Cast:Albert Dupontel (David Hoffmann),
Marie Guillard (Marie Becker),
Marthe Keller (Professeur Brügen),
Mélanie Thierry (Manon Brügen),
Claude Perron (Miller),
Alain Figlarz (Dimitri Nicolov),
Smadi Wolfman (Sarah),
Patrick Bauchau (Charles Becker),
Guy Lecluyse (Kovacs),
Cyril Lecomte (Le légiste),
Francis Renaud (Yuri),
Manon Chevallier (Clémence),
Estelle Lefébure (Clara),
Mika Cotellon (Malik),
Andy King (Gianni),
Sébastien Libessart (Infirmier),
Patrick Hamel (Jacques),
Virginie Jaspart (Aide-soignante),
Rémy Roubakha (Opérateur Europol),
Claudia Tagbo (Infirmière)
Country: France
Language: French
Support: Color
Runtime: 105 min
Aka:Installer
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