Ki lo sa? (1985)
Directed by Robert Guédiguian

Film Review

Robert Guédiguian is well-known for his idiosyncratic slices of life set in his beloved Marseille, in films such as Marius et Jeannette (1997) and À la place du coeur (1998). Whilst most of Guédiguian's films are set in this historic French port they span a remarkable range of genres and encompass a dizzying assortment of themes, including noir-style thriller intrigue, classic romance and pressing social issues. Ki lo sa?, Guédiguian's third feature, is one of his more unusual films in this series, a surprisingly dark and mystical work which explores various existentialist concerns through the interlocking prisms of black comedy and social realism. A far more intimate and understated work than the director's preceding migrant-themed saga Rouge midi (1985), it is a film dealing with failure and disillusionment and invites us to ponder what a successful life looks like, indeed whether the question has any validity.

Here, Guédiguian regulars Ariane Ascaride, Gérard Meylan, Jean-Pierre Darroussin and Pierre Banderet play four disparate individuals who, when confronted with their personal failings since childhood, decide that life is too painful to endure and so opt for the nearest exit. The subject matter is grim (perhaps more than it needs to be) but the director brings to it his customary poetic and humane sensibility, making it an intensely involving film. Ki lo sa? is quite unlike any other film that Robert Guédiguian has made so far, and yet it is unmistakably his own.

Film Synopsis

Dada, a solitary thirty-something, maintains the vast gardens of a once grand house in Marselles.  He recalls the happy childhood he spent in the gardens with the children who lived in the area.  Before separating, the childhood friends fixed a date in the future when they would all return to the gardens.  The date comes and only three of Dada's former friends honour the appointment.  There is Marie, who regrets having to exploit her boyfriend's generosity, selling the gifts he gives her for ready cash.  There is Gitan, an unemployed bachelor who finds it impossible to hold down a job.  And there is Pierre, a struggling writer with some talent but no luck.  At first the reunion is a happy one.  But then, as they reflect on the emptiness of their lives, the mood of the four friends turns increasingly sombre…