The Plough (film)

The Plough (French: Le Grand Chariot) is a 2023 drama film co-written and directed by Philippe Garrel. Starring Louis Garrel, Damien Mongin, Esther Garrel, Lena Garrel and Francine Bergé, it depicts the story of romantic and tragic destiny of a family of puppeteer artists.[1][2] It competed for the Golden Bear at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 21 February 2023.[3] It was released theatrically in France on 13 September 2023.[4]

The Plough
Theatrical release poster
FrenchLe Grand Chariot
Directed byPhilippe Garrel
Written by
Produced by
  • Laurine Pelassy
  • Edouard Weil
Starring
CinematographyRenato Berta
Edited byYann Dedet
Music byJean-Louis Aubert
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 21 February 2023 (2023-02-21) (Berlinale)
  • 13 September 2023 (2023-09-13) (France)
Running time
95 minutes
Countries
  • France
  • Switzerland
LanguageFrench

Synopsis

A traveling puppet theater is legacy of three siblings, father and grandmother. When the father dies during a performance, the remaining family members keep the show running and try to keep legacy alive.

Cast

Production

Development

In director's statement Philippe Garrel said, "I wanted to make a film with my three children, since my children are aged 22, 30 and 38, I had to find a reason to bring them together at those ages." His father Maurice Garrel was a puppeteer in Gaston Baty’s troupe along with his godfather, Alain Recoing. So, he decided to depict a family of puppeteers and wrote the screenplay with Jean-Claude Carrière, Arlette Langmann and Caroline Deruas Peano.[5] In March 2022, CNC released funds for the film.[2]

Casting

Besides Louis Garrel, Esther Garrel, and Lena Garrel in the roles of the siblings Louis, Martha and Lena, Francine Bergé as the grandmother, Alain Recoing's son Aurélien Recoing as the father, Damien Mongin as Pieter, Mathilde Weil as Hélène and Asma Messaoudene as Laura were cast. Renato Berta shot the film in black and white and the scenery was created by Manu de Chauvigny. Jean-Louis Aubert, like Philippe Garrel's previous films composed the music of The Plough.[2][1]

Release

The Plough had its world premiere on 21 February 2023 as part of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, in competition. It was released theatrically in France on 13 September 2023.[4] It was invited at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 'Icon' section and was screened on 6 October 2023.[6]

Reception

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 50% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10.[7]

Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter calling the film "Intimately familiar" wrote, "A minor if somewhat memorable work by a director who has left his mark not only on his own children, but on a brand of filmmaking that may disappear along with him."[8] Fabien Lemercier reviewing for Cineuropa praised the film and wrote, "It’s a perfect portrait beneath a modest surface, which pulls back the curtain on the universe of those pulling puppets’ strings in the world of fiction, folk who are more than familiar with the ups and downs of life."[9] Jonathan Romney for ScreenDaily wrote in review that the film is "You’d have to be a committed Garrelian, or a hardline upholder of the prerogatives of French auteurism, to really appreciate a glum piece which feels like a relic of a European cinema that is no longer really attuned to the times."[10]

Accolades
Award Date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival 25 February 2023 Golden Bear The Plough Nominated [11]
Silver Bear for Best Director Philippe Garrel Won [12]

References
  1. "The Plough". Cineuropa. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  2. Lemercier, Fabien (1 March 2022). "Advance on receipts from the CNC for Le grand chariot by Philippe Garrel". Cineuropa. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  3. Rosser, Michael (23 January 2023). "Berlin Film Festival reveals 2023 competition line-up". Screen Daily. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  4. "Le grand chariot" [The Plough]. Cineserie (in French). 20 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  5. "Presskit:The Plough - A film by Philippe Garrel" (PDF). Berlinale. Retrieved 5 February 2023. (PDF; 215 KB)
  6. "The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List". Busan International Film Festival. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  7. "The Plough (Drama 2023)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  8. Mintzer, Jordan (21 February 2023). "The Plough Review: Director Philippe Garrel's Very French Family Affair". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  9. Lemercier, Fabien (21 February 2023). "Review: The Plough". Cineuropa. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  10. Romney, Jonathan (21 February 2023). "The Plough': Berlin Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  11. Ramachandran, Naman; Vivarelli, Nick (23 January 2023). "Berlin Film Festival Reveals Competition Lineup (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  12. Scott Roxborough (25 February 2023). "Berlin: French Documentary 'On the Adamant' Wins Golden Bear for Best Film". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
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