Chevalier (2015) (Greek Language)

Review

105min

Genre:      Comedy, Drama

Director:   Athina Rachel Tsangari

Cast:        Panos Koronis, Sakis Rouvas, Yiorgos Kendros…and more

Writers:    Athina Rachel Tsangari and Efthymis Filippou

-Synopsis-

Director Athina Rachel Tsangari’s triumphant dark comedy at last year’s “BFI London Film Festival” is an absurd but perceptive Greek black comedy following six men on a luxury Aegean yacht trip, as their competitive nature farcically escalates changing their relationship in this scathing dissection of the male ego.

Athenian production designer, producer, writer and director Athina Rachel Tsangari has often been described as part of the new “Greek Weird Wave” movement of cinema, a contemporary cinematic style led by her friend and collaborator Yorgos Lanthimos.

Indeed ‘Chevalier’ is built upon this dark ludicrous and absurdist foundation, but Tsangari’s American education and experience in “Western” cinema is just as much a factor in this semi-intellectual but amusingly perceptive farce, which is only slightly more absurd than the very real personalities in it.

The story takes place on board a luxury catered yacht; where six mature, cultured family-men indulge in fishing, diving and fine dining activities on a Greek winter break. But when a ludicrous game of who is the “all-round best” is improvised; the male competitive streak rears its head as they begin to score and judge each other in all manner of ridiculous and mundane activities, and against every silly physical and character trait, in an effort to crown the champion… or “Chevalier”.

‘Chevalier’ is undoubtedly quirky and unusual to say the least, as the tag line reads, “a buddy movie without the buddies”, but by the end that may not read completely true in this deadpan comedy of social dynamics. It is nonetheless an interesting and often hilarious critique of the male psyche and the competitive nature of men, capable of reducing any of us into insecure children at seemingly any turn.

Whether international or not; Tsangari’s third feature film is also reflective of an increasingly judgmental and hyper-critical society, epitomised by the nature of a ubiquitous “celebrity” culture.

This film prods along steadily, but this is not your typical gag or set-piece based comedy; the laughs are sporadic and based on both silly and unsettling situations, and there’s plenty to cringe about throughout. It’s also not as dark as you might think and certainly not particularly irreverent, and apart from some hilariously uncomfortable male nudity,  ‘Chevalier’ does little to earn its 18 BBFC rating… which says something about the puritanical streak in our society.

We’re all for subtlety in comedy when it’s appropriate, but if you’re gonna go unconventional and farcical you might as well commit, and ‘Chevalier’ never really does.

The comedy is welcome but not ludicrous enough to be absurdist, the satire is interesting but not nearly scathing enough and the concept is wrapped up early into a film that seems to then drag along. It barely builds any sort of real tension or drama and concludes comically but rather pointlessly… but then maybe that’s the point itself.

Nevertheless Athina Rachel Tsangari has crafted a well shot, considered and interesting comedy which moonlights as a silly but perceptive deconstruction of the male psyche. We don’t know what’s going on with Greek filmmakers and whether their country’s predicaments have inspired this fascinating creative left-turn, but we’re certainly interested to see what Tsangari, Lanthimos & co. come up with next.

The Bottom Line…

Although a slightly tame and directionless deadpan comedy which is less substantial than it seems; ‘Chevalier’ is a perceptive and deliberately uncomfortable farce which bluntly deconstructs the male ego, a distinctly original piece of Athina Rachel Tsangari work with more than enough cringeworthy humour to keep you engaged.

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