L'Idole (2002)
Directed by Samantha Lang

Film Review

This film contrasts the narcissism of youth and beauty, taking life for granted and being prepared to throw it petulantly away, with the measured, voyeuristic and detached pain and trauma of a Chinese man who is 70 years old, and living in an alien culture.  The French, with their Euro-centric, self serving provincialism make a canvas for the bigger drama conducted by outsiders, but still enmeshed in the drama of life, which according to the filmmaker will paralyse us all, to varying degrees, with its artificiality. We seize moments of authenticity and they prove costly.  The curse seems like a narcissistic fantasy, a piece of cosmic nonsense - except it happens.  When the young Sarah bites her friend/ voyeur/ protector, he decides to poison her with the sleeping pills she had reserved for a bungled suicide.  He fails. Sarah has moved out of the apartment.  His illusion of detachment has also left. A strangely prescient, jealous and lovely young girl has the final word, rearranging the reality to suit her own script.  This is a wonderfully complex and intriguing film. It will not be appreciated or understood by many.  I congratulate Samantha Lang for her achievement.

Film Synopsis

Living in an anonymous Parisian apartment block is Zao, an elderly Chinese cook who has made up his mind to end his days in the not too distant future.  He reveals his intentions to Sarah, an Australian actress who has recently taken up residence in the apartment opposite his own.  Seeing nothing to regret in his impending suicide, the old man invites the attractive young woman to share with him a series of refined Chinese meals, up until the day he has chosen to die.  Fascinated by Zao and his curious attitude to life Sarah agrees and so begins a delicate relationship between two people who could hardly be more different.  Naturally, the curiosity of their neighbours is aroused by this strange and improbable liaison...