Culture

Directed by: Eric Lartigau, (3.5/5).

The Big Picture centres on Paul Exben (Romain Duris), a successful lawyer with his own firm in Paris, a beautiful wife and two handsome children. From an outsider’s perspective the marriage appears to be going well, but tension is felt from the opening scene. When Paul discovers his wife is cheating on him, an ill-fated attempt to confront the man ends in his death and a decision by Paul to flee his life and assume the dead lover’s identity.
 
I had trouble making up my mind about this film. Initially the characters were irritating, the story line not terribly engaging and a few plot holes surfaced which put me in a poor frame of mind. But, as so rarely happens, the script bounced back and once Duris was given enough space to flex his dramatic muscles, a well written, thoughtful thriller emerged that was well paced and excellently cast.
 
Though the first forty minutes feels a bit rushed, once the protagonist is taken out of the cramped Parisian confines of his seemingly perfect life, his character is allowed to breathe and I was held to attention up until the very last shot. Even though we have seen Paul commit murder then judiciously set about covering it up, you still end up feeling sympathy for his character.
 
Duris is particularly enjoyable to watch. His brooding journey of self-discovery displays his skill as a dramatic actor while he transports you into his thoughts and involves the audience in what is no doubt a heavily laden conscience.
 
I would liken the film to a cramped car ride in which, after unloading the more irritating passengers, you are left talking to an enigmatic and interesting stranger. The rest of the trip flies by lost in good conversation and upon reaching your destination, you all of a sudden wish you had a little further to go. Well worth seeing.
 
French language with subtitles.