Va savoir

Va savoir, released in 2001 and directed by Jacques Rivette, opens a window into the blurring lines between mimicry and reality, as lived by characters wedged between the drama of the theatre and the enigma of life. It's a film that showcases the tensions and fascinations that underline the human condition, through narratives that parade the complexities of love, passion, and self-discovery.

Jeanne Balibar headlines the cast, playing Camille, a successful French actress who returns to Paris after a three-year stint in Italy, to spearhead the production of a play by Pirandello, “As You Desire Me.” It’s a return that's fraught with tumult; not only does she grapple with mastering her character Elisa, but she's also cornered into her past, thanks to her former lover Pierre, portrayed by Jacques Bonnaffé. Camille's second-coming is also a time of experiencing, once more, the Paris she left behind, but now through the prism of a woman who's tasted the shades of life beyond her homeland. Her journey seems to mirror the life of her character in the play, Elisa, who is a woman torn between two lovers.

Sergio Castellitto plays Ugo, Camille's current companion, and the lead in the play they're staging. However, there's more to Ugo than meets the eye; not only is he relentlessly dedicated to his craft, but he is also, in his free time, on a quest to find a long lost, unpublished manuscript by Italian playwright Carlo Goldoni, and it's a search that takes him on a side adventure, leading him to a nimble but intense romance with a young, charming philosophy student, Do, played by Hélène de Fougerolles.

Marianne Basler, playing Sonia, fulfills another spectrum of the narrative. She's Pierre's current partner, who carries an eroticism that’s starkly in contrast to the more pertinacious presence of Camille. Sonia is unaware of the storm that’s been brewing within Pierre following Camille's return, and this lack of knowledge becomes a vital piece of the narrative puzzle that the movie so pensively presents.

What makes Va savoir stand out is its play within a play setting, sending the viewers into a surreal, roller-coaster realm where theatre and reality constantly overlap. The characters' lives mimic their on-stage personas and vice versa, deftly exhibiting Rivette's perception of theatre as a mirror reflecting both played and lived life.

The crux of the movie lies in the entwining journeys of Camille, Pierre, Ugo, and Sonia; literally and metaphorically across the backdrop of Paris, replete with its iconic landmarks but also its less glamorous, everyday grunge. These journeys highlight the adage that love, like life, isn’t always linear and that buried emotions and passions could unfurl themselves in the most unexpected ways.

The exemplary performances blended with the symphony of human emotions make Va savoir a captivating watch. Balibar portrays depth, despair, ambition, and vulnerability with utmost grace. Her performance emanates a sense of Camille's quest for love, companionship, and self-worth. Castellitto plays Ugo with diligence, balancing his character's commitment to his art and a man hopelessly falling for an unlikely woman. Basler’s Sonia is intriguing and enticing, adding a layer of intrigue to the tangled plot.

Rivette's direction comes with a blend of realism and escapism, where mystery, humor, and melancholy intertwine to bring out a thoroughly engaging narrative. His subtle commentary on life and art is beautifully encapsulated with the comings and goings between theatre and personal lives of the characters, making you wonder - Va savoir (who knows)?

Va savoir is hence, much more than a Parisian dalliance; it is a commentary on love and life where the stage is the world, characters are people and irrespective of the curtain calls, the play never really ends. It is a testament to its title – a constant, recursive questioning that provokes thought, piques curiosity, leaves one hanging – an echo that resounds with charm and mystery – Va Savoir (Who Knows)?