The Life of Jesus (La Vie De Jesus)

The Life of Jesus Film Difficulty Ranking: 4

This is a film for those who are used to art-house films. Some parts are deliberately slow to emphasise the tedium of small town life in France and will put off some viewers. However, there is a lot to like about this film. It has some great acting, an ominous build up of tension, and some moments that would not be out of place in Napoleon Dyanmite. Above all, it is a gritty portrayal of the hopelessness of life in rural France, where there are no prospects or ambition. Think of it as the rural anti-thesis of La Haine.

Why Watch The Life of Jesus?

• You want an insight into life in a small provincial French town including, but not limited to:
  • Racism: “Are we going to beat up that Arab soon?”
  • Brass Bands, including an overly enthusiastic conductor
  • Sex and rape: “it was just a bit of fun”

The Breakdown

The first scene shows Freddy riding his motorbike through the French countryside. The road is empty, there are no cars. The background is full of rolling dull green hills set under a bleak grey sky. The colours revolve around a palette of greys to make it seem less appealing. Freddy rides into town and crashes off his bike as he tries to stop it outside a restaurant. He walks in and greets his mum who is watching TV. Life in this town is dull!

Freddy is ashamed to be epileptic. At first, we are sympathetic, however as the film progresses, our sympathy disappears. After one appointment, he throws off the brain scanner and runs out of the hospital. He then speeds back home on his bike without a shirt on, and for the second time crashes as he tries to stop. Straight after the crash, he runs to find his girlfriend for sexual intercourse. It is like he is trying to compensate for his epilepsy by affirming his manliness/machismo.

Freddy is also unemployed and supposedly looking for a job. However, he spends all of his time hanging out with his mates who are also unemployed. To combat their lack of ambition and prospects, they all ride around town together looking for trouble. They need some way of asserting their machismo to compensate for their lack of respect in the town. Unfortunately one of their outlets is racism, and the unlucky guy is an Arab who takes a stalker-like liking to Freddy’s girlfriend.

Conclusion

The Life of Jesus is a no-frills look at life in a remote French village for young men. The lack of dialogue and dulled colours matches the lack of things to do in the area. Although it lacks commercial appeal, the film is a great depiction of stifled adolescent lives. People who push their troubles onto others.

 

 

---

','

' ); } ?>