Merry-Go-Round

Rivette is once again in full force, skillfully bridging the enigmatic plot and the pleasure of film, fantasy, and characters. The metaphorical sequences described above are indeed the truth of the entire film. Not only do they serve as a mirror to the plot itself, full of twists and intense battles between characters, taking the form of deceitful tricks and surreal passages of open violence. But mainly, they allow the filmmakers and the audience to savor the complicated plot in its simple essence, condensed into silent scenes composed of elementary and at times almost existential ingredients, from anxiety to fear to... reconciliation? Personally, it seemed to me that Rivette is more theatrical here than in his other more explicit films, especially thanks to the deliberate complexity, paradoxical nature, and ironically contrived mystery of the plot, creating a distance that turns the characters into actors playing their roles (one character directly asks another: "What role are you playing?"). However, this only strengthens the enjoyable feeling (which I personally missed in Duelle), that it's not just about what actually happens on the screen, but how it happens (by the way, Lubtchansky showcases the best of his artistry) and how the film is composed of elementary ingredients: acting, tension, surprises, camerawork, and emotions. (20.02.2016)