French Exit

"French Exit", a 2020 film starring Michelle Pfieffer, Lucas Hedges and Tracey Letts perseveres in making the audience believe in the remarkable possibility of finding a second chance in all situations in life, no matter how dire. Masterfully directed by Azazel Jacobs and based on Patrick Dewitt’s novel of the same name who is also responsible for the screenplay, "French Exit" deftly combines dark humor with elements of existentialist drama, sketching out a melancholic yet affecting portrait of people who refuse to accept the bitter truth of life for as long as they can.

The central figure in this serpentine tableau is Frances Price (Michelle Pfeiffer), a penniless Manhattan socialite, who is the epitome of a poised paradox. She is a woman of dignity, elegance, and a certain offbeat charm, but also someone knee-deep in adversities, brought on mostly due to her own laissez-faire attitude towards her dwindling fortunes. Pfeiffer’s performance is an engaging balance of dry humor and simmering undercurrents of grief, making Frances a captivating and sometimes unsettling watch. The film's title, "French Exit", is a colloquial term for taking off without saying goodbye, and it's what Frances does after she realizes that her large fortune, acquired through her deceased husband Frank Price(Tracey Letts), is near its end.

Unable to continue the extravagant style in New York that she's become accustomed to, Frances takes a leap of faith and relocates to Paris, escaping her financial ruin and taking along her son Malcolm (Lucas Hedges) - an insouciant mummy's boy - and a black cat that Frances believe houses the spirit of her husband. The relationship between Frances and Malcolm is a mix of codependency and mutual helplessness, portrayed with a subtle and heart-touching affect by Pfeiffer and Hedges.

The city of Paris, usually the ideal backdrop for romantic endeavors in the world of cinema, here becomes a playground for the absurd. As Frances and Malcolm try to attach themselves to the vibrant life of this city, they assemble an eccentric crew of characters around them. This motley group includes a lonely widow, a clairvoyant and her skeptical partner, and a stoic private investigator who contributes to the unpredictable caricature that the narrative unravels into.

What sets "French Exit" apart is its ability to balance the quirky and the profound. It oscillates between Frances's insolent humor and her despair about the passage of time, the inevitability of life's end. Behind many a funny situations, the reality of impending bankruptcy looms large. The film, at its core, is an exploration of those who have always had and now excel at the practice of not acknowledging a worrisome reality, until it becomes unmanageable.

"French Exit" revels in its ambiguity, encouraging the viewer to question and ponder over its multifaceted characters and their actions. It's a study of upper-class ennui and the fine line that oft separates comedy from tragedy. As we delve deeper into the lives of the characters, we discover that the whimsicality is nothing more than a front to hide a rather compelling study of sadness, loneliness, and the persisting connection between life and death.

The film’s unconventional conclusion may leave you pondering the hidden message regarding the juxtaposition of death and liberation. But as it is with all complex narratives, the interpretation is left up to the viewer; the film elegantly veils its existentialist undertones in charming vignette of Parisian life, nuanced performances, and dexterous direction, thereby making it a more palatable expedition into the darkly comedic world Frances's universe.

In summary, "French Exit" is a film that bravely defies the conventional norms of storytelling and character development, prioritizing life's absurdity and finding humor even in the darkest and most desolate of circumstances. The impeccable performances of Pfeiffer and Hedges, combined with Jacobs' expert direction, turn Frances's offbeat journey of reinvention into a layered melee of tragicomedy. This film’s uniqueness lies in its ability to capture the ludicrous, the tragic, and the humane in a single narrative frame, making it a most worthwhile watch.