There’s no contest for the most original and charming film of the week. It is this virtually silent musical comedy which looks and feels like a tribute to Jacques Tati.
It was made in northern France by three people — Fiona Gordon, Dominique Abel and Philippe Martz — who play the leading roles.
Gordon and Abel are teachers at a small country school who share a passion for Latin dance. When school is out they rush around the countryside picking up competition trophies.
They are blissfully happy until one day they swerve and crash trying to avoid a suicide case (Martz) standing in the road. She loses part of a leg. He loses his memory, including any knowledge of her.
That means they are sacked from their jobs and can’t dance together any more. He goes off with the unsuccessful suicide case. She struggles alone with a wooden leg.
If this sounds black, the film’s innate sense of humour and the naïve poetry of its making, which admittedly sometimes descends into whimsy, provide a resolutely optimistic feel.
The two thwarted lovers never quite give up, no matter what hits them. Tati would definitely approve.
Rumba
