White Material
2009
**
Director: Claire Denis
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Christopher Lambert, Isaach De Bankolé, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Adèle Ado, Michel Subor, William Nadylam, David Gozlan
Maria Vial is a white French woman whose family grows coffee somewhere in Africa. As the country in question becomes embroiled in civil war, the stubborn Marie refuses to believe that the unrest could reach the plantation. Claire Denis' tells this fairly simple story in a non-linear structure. Her aim is to arouse intrigue, but she only succeeds in creating confusion. She provides no background information on the setting, and the narrative trickery also alienates me from the characters. The film never allows me to get to know them, understand them or sympathise with them. Although Isabel Huppert gives a very strong performance in the lead, Marie is an infuriatingly naive protagonist. She knowingly harbours the rebel leader and goes about her daily business as if nothing is happening. When the inevitable tragedy strikes, I was unmoved and frustrated.
