Va Savoir

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Jacques Rivette's exciting and delightful romantic comedy finds the French New Wave giant on familiar territory. Namely: theater as life, life as theater, and the junction where both fold together in an expansive universe of cinematic space and time. The director of such remarkably modernist classics as Celine and Julie Go Boating and La Belle Noiseuse here takes on a story of romantically entangled Parisian actors mounting a production of Luigi Pirandello's play As You Desire Me. As lovers hop in and out of ever-shifting relationships, the production comes together and opens to mixed success. The dynamics on and off the stage, between real life and theater, begin to fuse as Rivette breaks the narrative into disjointed pieces and lifts them to a higher plane of passionate resonance. An enjoyable ride and a tremendous accomplishment from a master filmmaker. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Adorable Internationals, Quirky Love Story.......2007-01-04

Va Savoir is one of my favorite international films. The humor alone always gets me. It's not a comedy nor a "dramedy." It's just about human relationships. Sure, all movies are about human relationships. However, this movie's narrative is compelling and the chemistry between the actors makes it humorous. Everything takes place around or behind a play. The main characters are actors in a traveling theatre troupe. The director and leading lady are stereotypically in love. However, it seems that their love is more an enduring friendship than a physical affair. All of the main characters are searching for something. If it is not a long lost play by an Italian playwright it's long lost dreams...

Here comes another litmus test in film viewing..........2005-12-04

This is without doubt a very challenging movie to watch. To watch intelligently, with concentration, attention & focus. It is the very antithesis of American TV fodder & most Hollywood product. No quickly identifiable yuk-yuk archetypes: you know, the NERD, the BABE, the HUNK, etc etc.

Not even a single reference, subtle or otherwise, to The Honeymooners or I Love Lucy or Casablanca. No (gratuitous) use or mention of IPods or CellPhones. Good grief. How are people supposed to IDENTIFY?

Sorry gang. This one might even demand that one be a bit familiar with Pirandello or Ingmar Bergman (I'll bet Woody would give his eye-teeth to have made this) to say nothing of some fundamental understanding of the basic underpinnings of Western Culture (well, they did used to teach these things in better colleges not that long ago).

But that's the whole problem. It's a cerebral movie, as are most of the best French films going back about 80 years or so. It does take patience & focus to appreciate. And that's why I love it. It ain't fast food. It's not instant gratification. I don't mind watching it in segments. Even going back & replaying scenes.

It's almost like Reading A Good Book!

I look forward to watching this film another half dozen times, at least. The way I do all the best movies, from Top Hat to Children of Paradise to Woman of the Year to Seven Samurai. Or the way I listen to Beethoven, Bach, Mozart & Mozart. Or reading Murakami or Saramago or Banville.

I guess you could say this is a film for grown-ups. Which could be a marketing problem for its distributors.

Would be a treat at 1 hour 45 minutes...but not at 2 hrs 34 mins.......2005-08-29

At 154 (!) minutes, "Va Savoir" could use about about 40+ minutes of judicious editing. I'm open to French cinematic experiences - there's nothing like the thrill of discovering gems like "Read My Lips" or "The Dinner Game" - but at 2 hours 30 minutes plus, director Jacques Rivette here strains the patience of even the most hardened of cinephiles.

That's not to say it isn't fun to watch Jeanne Balibar ooze her way across the screen - she's such a silky-smooth, enchanting presence. And it's a treat to see Sergio Castellitto, who was spectacular in the winning 'Mostly Martha.' And how about an actor who can play leads in German (as he did in 'Martha') and Italian and French (he does both with aplomb here in 'Va Savoir')? This is one talented guy. But condensing the film down to a tighter 1 hr 45 minutes would have greating increased the viewing experience.

Also, viewers should take care not to get freaked out during the first 1 - 2 minutes of the film. It's in Italian, and the filmmakers (or its distributors?) don't start the subtitling until Camille (Balibar, on stage in the film, emoting in Italian) steps off stage and out of character and says "In French now." And, viola, at that point the subtitles kick in. It's a cute little effect, but it'll drive you crazy with your clicker if you're not aware of it.

A good film nearly undone by one atrocious performance.......2005-07-21

Va Savoir is one of those films I might have liked a lot more had it featured a different leading lady, but Jeanne Balibar's listless and affected performance - like some hyperactive simpleton doped up to the eyeballs going through their full repertoire of irritating mannerisms in extreme slow motion - sucked the life out of every scene she's in. What's more, she's horribly overindulged by director Jacques Rivette, whose pacing often seems to take her lead and drags scenes out far beyond their natural lifespan just so she can slowly, dreamily roll her eyes up heavenward while smiling like an idiot another three times for no discernible reason. While a certain degree of affectation might have suited the character, this is in the realms of the absurd, which is a shame, because the rest of the cast are excellent and the film has a lot going for it whenever she's offscreen. The ending in particular, where the various characters find themselves on stage as the plots and possibilities are casually resolved, is quietly marvellous.

Characters create un-Rivette-ing film........2004-11-17

One could consider this film like a cinematic whole-wheat pancake. Your film comes topped with butter, syrup, and all the fruits you can think of (the characters of the film). When it is presented originally Va Savoir looks tantalizingly delicious, but after ten minutes of eating you realize that you finished and still hungry. You realize that this mound of goodness was nothing more than fluffy cooked dough that will ultimately make you fat, lazy, and sleepy. While it may give you a high at first, the darkness of the inevitable "sugar-low" is fast approaching and causing you to grab your stomach in disgust. Also, it was a flop. Perhaps that was a bit overboard, but I really wanted to explain this film in a way that was a bit more entertaining than the film itself. To put it bluntly, this film was like watching the grass grow in your back yard in anticipation of having to mow it again. It was slow, not very colorful, and a pain to sit through. When it finally gets too long, it hurts too much to do it again, but you know it must be done. That feeling is exactly how I felt about the film Va Savoir.

This is a devoutly character based film. To make a deeply rooted character based film to work, you must first have exciting characters that you know your audience is going to want to follow. Sadly, this was not the case in this film. From the opening scene (where the subtitles were not working on my DVD) all the way till the final moments of the film, we have to follow four of the dullest characters in cinematic history. Cammille is our pilot, following an emotion and feeling that is never quite developed in the story and therefore never quite developed in her. Her mannerisms and reactions to situations made me feel as if she was a bit on the loony side. Perhaps it was the way that Jeanne Balibar chose to play her, but there was nothing making me believe that Cammille was a very strong character. Her actions throughout the film prove that much, but what are her motives and reasonings? That is never explained or developed, yet there was three hours to do it. Strange. This goes the same for Sonia, who I also never really fully grasped onto. She seemed to be in love, but at the same time enjoying moments with Arthur. Her need to rearrange made me think that her and Cammille had similar personalities (loony), which is what made them become friends near the end. Yet, again, it was never explained. We, the audience, were forced to follow a lot of assumptions in this film, and whenever we felt that we fully understood and connected with a character, Rivette would pull us further away. It was as if he never really wanted us to fully understand them, but still accept them. That didn't brood well with me.

Couple this with random intermissions of the play that these performers are putting on for the Parisians only helps to confuse the audience. I couldn't tell if Cammille was actually acting in the play or just walking through the lines. Half the time it looked as if it bothered her to be there. There was no emotion or excitement when she was on stage prompting me to question whether she was this "infamous" actress that they claimed her to be. I have seen several foreign films in my lifetime, but this one takes the cake as possibly the longest passenger car to Dullsville. I had trouble understanding the play that was happening throughout the film, thus causing me to care less about the characters. The final thirty minutes of this movie are actually fun. The scenes where Pierre and Ugo decide to duel are hysterical. I actually watched this scene over again because I enjoyed it so much. The connections made at the end tied the film up nicely, but still left too many questions unanswered.

Overall, I was lost in this film. If you ever pick up this film and you see a blonde-hair, blue-eyes 26-year old wandering through the scenes, it is I just trying to understand this film. I can't figure it out, I can understand most Lynch, Gilliam, and others of the "jigsaw puzzle" genre, but this was just beyond my control. The characters seemed drab and never fully comfortable in their roles, and those that were jumped between emotions like playing leapfrog in kindergarten. The stories were connected well, but it didn't make any difference if the characters (the glue of the stories) didn't hold them together. In your eyes, and in your DVD player, you can see where this film just falls apart. If you are looking for a stronger emotional powerhouse film where characters work with their characters and push the envelope even further, I would check out Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia. This film reminded me of Magnolia except bad.

I don't suggest anyone wasting their three hours on this film, but who am I except a lost guy in this film.

Again, if found, please return!

Grade: * out of *****

Va savoir (Who Knows?) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2&4 Import - Australia ]

Average customer rating:

Va savoir (Who Knows?) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2&4 Import - Australia ]
Director: Jacques Rivette
Manufacturer: Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000HKGSY0

Product Description

Australia released, PAL/Region 2&4 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: French (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Subtitles), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SYNOPSIS: Jacques Rivette's gracious - and graceful - character comedy is droll and lovable, a piece that has earned all of the wrinkles on its brow and around its mouth. What's surprising is that on close examination those crinkles turn out to be smile lines. "Savoir" is a luminous, humid roundelay, as three men and three women tumble in and out of one another's minds, hearts and arms. Everyone is looking for something other than what he or she has. That lusty self-interest is the motor of all great farces. The film's title has been translated as "Who Knows?," and it is a wistful, rueful shrug: an unforgettable gesture as sexy and controlled as Tony Bennett chugging his way through "I Wish I Were in Love Again." SPECIAL FEATURES: Trailer(s), Photo Gallery, Interactive Menu, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Biographies,

Average customer rating:

Adorable Internationals, Quirky Love Story
Here comes another litmus test in film viewing...
Would be a treat at 1 hour 45 minutes...but not at 2 hrs 34 mins
A good film nearly undone by one atrocious performance
Characters create un-Rivette-ing film.

Va Savoir (Who Knows?) [Region 2]
Starring: Jeanne Balibar , Marianne Basler , Hélène de Fougerolles , Catherine Rouvel , and Sergio Castellitto
Director: Jacques Rivette
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000063JD1

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Adorable Internationals, Quirky Love Story.......2007-01-04

Here comes another litmus test in film viewing..........2005-12-04

Would be a treat at 1 hour 45 minutes...but not at 2 hrs 34 mins.......2005-08-29

A good film nearly undone by one atrocious performance.......2005-07-21

Characters create un-Rivette-ing film........2004-11-17

Average customer rating:

Adorable Internationals, Quirky Love Story
Here comes another litmus test in film viewing...
Would be a treat at 1 hour 45 minutes...but not at 2 hrs 34 mins
A good film nearly undone by one atrocious performance
Characters create un-Rivette-ing film.

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0000695IX

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Adorable Internationals, Quirky Love Story.......2007-01-04

Here comes another litmus test in film viewing..........2005-12-04

Would be a treat at 1 hour 45 minutes...but not at 2 hrs 34 mins.......2005-08-29

A good film nearly undone by one atrocious performance.......2005-07-21

Characters create un-Rivette-ing film........2004-11-17

Va Savoir (Original French Version with English Subtitles)

Average customer rating:

"Life is what happens to you as you desire me",

Va Savoir (Original French Version with English Subtitles)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000639U52

Product Description

The theatre world is a familiar setting for the films of Rivette. In Va savoir, the characters, all quick-witted, well-read and cultured types, revolve around each other in a delightful potpourri of theatre, romance and theft. In the end, everything lands on its feet and they all get the partner they deserve, but before then, long filmer Rivette takes two and a half hours to dwell lightly on the vicissitudes around the six protagonists. Camille is an actress with an Italian company that is in Paris to perform a play by Pirandello, Come tu mi vuoi. Her boyfriend Ugo is the director and the company's most important actor. Both have a hidden agenda for their trip to Paris: Camille meets her ex Pierre, a professor of philosophy, while Ugo is secretly researching a supposedly lost play by Goldoni. In the archives, he is assisted by the charming student Do, who steals his heart. In turn, Do has a link with Pierre: her stepbrother, the playwright Arthur, namely steals an expensive ring from Pierre's wife Sonia. After many sophisticated conversations, secret rendezvous and references to Pirandello, events reach a hilarious climax when Pierre and Ugo challenge each other to an old-fashioned duel for life and death.

Customer Reviews:

"Life is what happens to you as you desire me", .......2006-12-20

The film's heroine, Camille, a French stage actress left Paris three years ago and found success in Torino, Italy where she became a lead actress for the theater company. She also became a lover of Ugo, a famous stage director. She returns back to Paris with Ugo and his company to act in Italian as a main character in Pirandello's "As You Desire Me", the play that explores the mysteries of identity and memory. While in Paris, Camille confronts her past life and Pierre, the man whom she loved and still can't forget. I found Camille's character (as played by Jeanne Balibar, the stage actress and a dancer) very interesting. She may not be likable in a beginning but she is talented and every character in the movie after watching her performing at the stage leaves with the feelings that they've witnessed something very special. Camille changes as the movie progresses and in the end she becomes like a sister or close friend to both Celine and Julie. Her every movement, gesture, the way she walks, smiles, turns her head, speaks in two languages changing the timbre of her voice are true marvels to watch and to listen to.

Ugo tries to find in the Paris libraries the lost but existing play by the Italian dramatist of 18th century, Carlo Goldoni and is helped by an intelligent and beautiful young student, Dominique or Do and they both seem to have developed some special feelings for each other. Dominique has a half-brother, Arthur who is in love with Sonja, a new woman in Pierre's life or is he in love with Sonja's exquisite jewelry? Do and Arthur have a mother, Madame Desprez who has inherited the library of the rare and priceless old books but she does not sell them, she keeps them as a memory of her first husband. Sonja, Pierre's girlfriend seems to bring the peace and happiness in Pierre's life after Camille was gone but she, too, had a mystery in her rather wild past for which a marvelous ring, an object of Arthur's desire serves as a reminder.

I like "Va savoir" a lot - it is so well constructed and absolutely Rivettesque and it made me smile all the time. It is long (as usual for Rivette's films) but elegantly relaxed. It moves well with its own wonderful pace and we enjoy leisure walkings and spend time with many old and rare books. We feel longing that is in the air - all six characters desire something and someone. We notice once again how much Rivette likes his characters sitting on the park bench where the magic events begin happening to them. We go through many wonderful sequences, ironic, dramatic, and lyrical and in the end we are awarded by the finale which is truly grand and theatrical in the best sense. After all the movie could be viewed as Rivette's love letter to theater. Va Savoir? Who knows?

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