Alicia and the mayor, or the pleasure of listening to good dialogue as adults

The ups and downs of politics do not always coincide with the reality of citizens. Y alice and the mayor it comes to presenting things as they are, the disconnect (which usually exists) between a politician and … practice. Or with ordinary people, in this case the young assistant who hires him to help him in his job.

Paul Theraneau (Fabrice Lucinifrom At homefrom Francois Ozonlisten)) is the mayor of Lyon. A veteran politician, who knows almost all of them, but who is a bit lost after thirty years in between. Intellectually confused, he feels he has entered a state of inertia that worries him.

This is where Alice Heimann (Anaïs Demoustier), a philosophy professor at Oxford, comes into play. She has returned to her village. The idea is that she gives you ideas.

The bewilderment of the mayor is parallel to that of the newcomer in the bureaucratic and government sphere. Alice, who in her position is barely named, is told that she no longer exists, but that she will still be able to work, she can hardly find the time or place to sit down and talk to Théreneau, about the role of the left or politics. parties.

They are just moments of exchange of words. And she feels that while she wants to do things right, not everyone views her favorably. Is she too much? Is useful?

The film combines drama and comedy, with many dialogues that connect philosophically and others that are put there more than anything else to testify to the whirlwind the politician lives in (survives). The mayor feels, breathes and lives obsessed with his vocation – politics -, even if it seems that he does or takes care of a lot, but commits himself with little.

We said there are touches of comedy, but what abounds in the director’s film the great thu they are notes and reflections on political theory. Whether the film is suitable for all audiences has more to do with the fact that nothing in it can upset a child, but from there to interest him, that’s another matter.

those dialogues

But the arguments that are put forward, in the dialogues and above all in the frankly well-constructed discussions, which really give pleasure to listen to and take care of, ensure that alice and the mayor makes for an extremely attractive film for adult audiences.

There is also that, more than the comparison, the amalgamation between characters who come from two different generations. The beliefs of one character and another, and how routine can distract us from what is important.

And the benefits of the screenplay must be added to the interpretations, especially by Luchini and Demoustier. She won the César Award for Best Female Performance.

A peculiarity of Alice et le maire, is that it was shot not digitally, but in 35mm. Another rarity: dialogues worth listening to and an image like not seen in theaters for a long time.

“Alice and the Mayor”

Very good

Dramatic comedy. France, 2019. Original title: “Alice and the maire”. 105 ‘, ATP. Of: Nicola Pariser. With: Fabrice Luchini, Anaïs Demoustier, Nora Hamzawi. Rooms: Lorca, Cinépolis Recoleta, Atlas Patio Bullrich, Cabildo Multiplex.