205. Only The Animals (Seules les bêtes); movie review

ONLY THE ANIMALS (SEULES LES BÊTES)
Cert TBA
117 mins
BBFC advice: Contains TBA

Originally, I began the everyfilm quest in order to present reviews through the eyes of the layman.
I have no film studies qualifications nor have I been a member of any professional bodies so I just intended to 'say what I see'.
However, as the years have progressed, it would appear that I have gained knowledge - therefore, I can state, with authority, that Only The Animals is a classic case of Rashomon.
What is Rashomon I hear you cry?
It is a classic Japanese film in which the action is played out repeatedly but from the very different perspectives of the protagonists. Because it was the first time a movie had ever been constructed in this way, it lent its name to a cinema style.
Dominik Moll's Only The Animals is a gripping Rashomon.
At its heart is the disappearance of a woman (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi) whose car, found the day after a snowstorm, is the only clue over what has happened.
Nearby is an isolated farmhouse where a victim (Damien Bonnard) of apparent mental health issues lives alone with his dog but receives visits from an insurance agent (Laure Calamy) who throws herself at him, claiming love.
Meanwhile, her grouchy husband (Denis Ménochet) finds satisfaction through an internet dating site.
But what is the connection between them, a pretty Parisienne student (Nadia Tereszkiewicz) and a con artist (Guy Roger N’Drin) in the Ivory Coast?
Dominik Moll's movie begins with the disappearance through the insurance agent's eyes. Initially, it is difficult to imagine her link to the missing woman because she is so intoxicated by her involvement with the farmer and otherwise facing pressure at home from her husband and father.
But as each of the key characters' lives are probed, the tighter they are drawn together, making for a thrilling conclusion.
It is surprising how an action can have a domino effect and even lead to tragedy but each scenario is completely credible until the very end when, for the first, time the movie's believability is stretched.
Nevertheless, this is an enthralling thriller in which both Mrs W and I transfixed.

Reasons to watch: Beautifully constructed Rashomon-style thriller
Reasons to avoid: Some may find it a tad disjointed

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: Yes
Nudity: Yes
Overall rating: 9/10

Did you know?  According to the FBI, monetary loss in the United States from romance crime rose from $211,382,989 to $475,014,032 from 2017 to 2019. Number of cases rises from 15,372 to 19,473 in only two years.

The final word. Dominik Moll: "By trying things that are not super conventional you can achieve something interesting. That's also why the adaptation of this book was interesting to me – it was a story structure that I had never experienced. " List Film

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