The Newcomer

Colour, 35mm
France, Canada, 2001, 102 min
Section: Variety Critics´ Choice

Synopsis

Slowly morphing from the serious to the playful, and with a script that coaxes the viewer into an elaborately spun web of separate narrtaives, "The Newcomer" is a delicious, utterly confident jeu from one of France´s most discreetly maverick directors, Claude Miller. Pic emerges as an unclassifiable blend of psychological thriller, caper movie, comedy-drama and multi-character criss-crosser, as the kidnapping of a young boy sets off a complex train of events. Compact script moves with incredible forward momentum, never giving an iota more info than it wants and thoroughly involving the viewer in its rapidly spun web. Though some characters´ paths hardly cross, there´s a sense of broad ensemble in the performances, from Sandrine Kiberlain´s initially abstracted, later complicit Betty to Nicole Garcia´s initially agitated, later caring mother. Derek Elley