Movie review | Berlinale Bloggers
"Comme le feu": the Quebec spark at the Berlinale

"Comme le feu" is a Quebec drama that certainly made an impression when it was screened at the 2024 Berlinale. At two hours and fifty-five minutes, the film is fast-paced and never feels long! The film, like others by Philippe Lesage such as "Les démons" (2015) and "Genèse" (2018), features young people. But this new work stands out because this time it's the teenagers' perspective on the adults around them that predominates.

By Thomas Asnong, Félix Brunette

We follow Alyosha and Max, who accompany their father, a screenwriter whose glory days are behind him, to an isolated cottage on an island to meet his friend Blake, a director who has managed to stay at the top of his game. Accompanied by a friend (Jeff), the brother and sister find themselves trapped in a stifling, inescapable situation where the adults' egos clash in an unhealthy way, culminating in the film's terrible climax.     

Oppressive direction    

This being Philipe Lesage's third feature, his mastery of directing and staging shines throughout the film. Lesage's impressive work includes dinner party scenes where the tension escalates through ingenious fixed-camera sequence shots, leaving the viewer bathed in an unease fuelled by confrontations where human hypocrisy is at its height. In addition to the camera work, the director sometimes jolts the audience with unconventional choices, such as having the characters sing at intense moments, like in a musical. While this daring choice is perplexing at first, the viewer is left haunted by these morsels of high-quality cinema long after the film has ended.  

Exceptional actors   

As well as the superb direction, the acting is largely responsible for the film's success. Indeed, the credibility of the actors is fundamental in a dramatic film, and the cast of Comme le feu passes the test with flying colours. While everyone is excellent, the outstanding work of Paul Ahmarani (his best role in a long time) and Ariel Worthalter (a superb discovery) must be highlighted. Their troubled relationship carries the film. And what can we say about Sophie Desmarais, who lights up every scene with her presence. Finally, we must single out the work of young Aurélia Arandi-Longpré, who is very convincing in her role as a strong young woman trapped in a web of toxic relationships.   
      
Comme le feu is a great success that would even have deserved a place in the festival's official competition rather than in the Generation 14+ section. If Quebec wasn't represented in quantity, it was certainly represented in quality!