Offering a complex, tragic and at times heartwarming look at eternal love, “Cafe de Flore” is one of the more unique films of the season. It ignores the barriers of traditional genres and cultural norms and blazes its own trail. Inspiring art direction, a talented cast and a plot reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan’s best work conspire to make “Flore” a captivating 120 minutes.
The film tells two different tales. One is of a single mother, Jacqueline (Vanessa Paradis), living in 1960s Paris with her son, Laurent, who has been diagnosed with Down syndrome. Jacqueline’s devotion to her son, however, soon turns to into obsession when Laurent falls for a girl named Veronique, who also has Down syndrome. The second story is about two recently divorced former high school sweethearts, Carole (Helene Florent) and Antoine (Kevin Parent), struggling to move on with their lives in modern-day Montreal. After 25 lost years together, Carole can’t seem to move past her broken marriage, exacerbated by the emergence of Antoine’s young new girlfriend, Rose.
Acclaimed Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallee (“The Young Victoria”) beautifully and insightfully brings “Flore” to life. The film takes a unique approach to storytelling, with much of its plot revealed in eerie dream sequences. The audience receives a myriad of cryptic clues to decipher, some remaining unexplained even after the credits have rolled. Part psychological thriller, part period piece and part human-interest tale, “Flore” succeeds in leaving an enthralled audience in its wake. The result is breathtaking and at times terrifying.
The film’s immensely talented cast delves deep into their multidimensional characters. Paradis effortlessly transitions from the role of loving mother to woman scorned when her son develops other affections. Similarly, Antoine must straddle the gap between the life he left behind and the one he has just begun. Deeply connected to his ex-wife, but wildly infatuated with his new girlfriend, the eras of Antoine’s life are marked by his romantic entanglements. Florent delivers a strong performance as Carole, who is heartbroken but forced to put on a brave face for the sake of her teenage daughters.
“Flore” is of a rare breed — it mesmerizes its audience while beautifully capturing the tragic plight of the lovelorn. But however insightful, “Flore” is not for the faint of heart. Emotional shock and terror plague much of its landscape, with an unsettling undertone running through the entire picture. Matched with the perfect director and an equally skilled cast, “Cafe de Flore” proves to be a chance worth taking. If nothing else, it’s difficult to not get caught up in the characters’ world.
A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, Nov. 8 print edition. Isabel Jones is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected].