Der Schaum der Tage (Mood Indigo, L’écume des jours)
France/Belgium 2013

Opening 3 Oct 2013

Directed by: Michel Gondry
Writing credits: Michel Gondry, Luc Bossi, Boris Vian
Principal actors: Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh, Omar Sy, Aïssa Maïga

This is a wild fantasy drama written in 1946 by Boris Vian, who still to this day is known for his modern-style of writing. The film takes us into the life of Colin (Romain Duris), who has become considerably wealthy due to all his inventions. He has created a piano cocktail with the use of his exceptional olfactory and musical skills along with his talent as an inventor. He meets and marries Chloé (Audrey Tautou), who unfortunately has a terminal illness. This rare water-lily-in-the-lungs disease can only be treated by surrounding her with expensive flowers. Colin’s brother collects writings of (as well as exhausting his funds for) the existentialist movement. He meets his death at the hand of Alise, the wife of Chick, his brother’s friend, a death which originates from the fact that everyone, for various reasons, is running out of money.

The storyline is very modern where things happen in a surrealistic way, and it is just that way and no other. It starts off romantically filled with little inventions and a little mouse that is almost human, but then it takes a sudden turn into the darkness and ends in a tale of woe. This film hit main stream with actor Romain Duris and actress Audrey Tautou. (Shelly Schoeneshoefer)