The Odyssey (2016) (French and English Language)

Review

122min

Genre:      Fact-based, Adventure, Drama

Director:   Jérôme Salle

Cast:        Lambert Wilson, Pierre Niney, Audrey Tautou…and more

Writers:    Jérôme Salle, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Albert Falco… and more

-Synopsis-

A biographical drama about the life and times of legendary French filmmaker, pioneer and oceanic explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau—from his self-centred ambition to conquer the seas to his duty as their protector, plus the family struggles which formed a titanic figure and a dynasty that would open eyes, and change the world’s relationship with nature.

No name in the 20th century has been more synonymous with the ocean and uncovering its deepest secrets than that of Cousteau, a figure so iconic that it has become almost caricature, being both not-so-subtly spoofed and eulogised in Wes Anderson’s ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’—so it might be a surprise to hear that Monsieur Cousteau has never before been directly depicted in feature film. Enter writer/director Jérôme Salle (Anthony Zimmer, Zulu)—armed with memoirs by the man’s son Jean-Michel and chief diver Albert Falco—to craft this poignant period family drama, ecological adventure and character portrait of an emblematic figure.

Veteran French actor Lambert Wilson (The Matrix Reloaded, Of Gods and Men) stars as Cousteau himself, a former amateur aviator and French naval officer turned oceanic inventor, explorer and filmmaker, trying to balance his responsibilities to his family with ever expanding ambition. As fame beckons and his aspiration seems to exceed his reach, ‘le Commandant’ struggles to maintain his marriage to his loyal but formidable wife and co-captain Simone (Audrey Tautou)—as a fractured relationship develops between him and his younger son Philippe (Pierre Niney), forcing him to reflect on his purpose and ecological philosophy.

Director Salle deserves credit here for striving to make a biographical drama which stretches beyond the perimeters of the traditional biopic—‘The Odyssey’ is almost as much an ecological adventure story, a family drama, a father/son tale and a conservation sermon as it is a portrait of an influential figure. Yet for all its various constituent ingredients, the film still ebbs and flows like your traditional and familiar biopic.

‘The Odyssey’ kicks off at the twilight of Cousteau’s post-war naval career with his young family, as his love of the ocean and inventions like  the ‘Aqualung’ sow the seeds for his destiny. It then takes a big chronological leap forward to the family exploits on the legendary boat ‘Calypso’, as its captain’s star steadily rises in line with his ambitions but not his ability to reach them, while his family life becomes strained—leading to an adversarial relationship with his younger son, co-producer and natural successor Philippe, and some existential re-invention.

As you might expect from a film about pioneering filmmakers, ‘The Odyssey’ is a beautifully shot picture, featuring some vividly cinematic nature landscapes and extraordinary underwater shots that wouldn’t look out of place on a postcard. Much of the emotional content in the film is orchestrated, or at least heightened, by yet another typically unique score from Alexandre Desplat, with the Oscar winning French composer opting for melodic grandiosity over idiosyncrasy this time.

Lambert Wilson delivers a commanding but subtle performance as Cousteau himself, here portrayed as a stoic and noble but flawed figure, whose purpose is clouded by ambition and whose integrity is betrayed by self-centredness—while Pierre Niney shines as his son and narrative foil Philippe, here seen as the pure heart of the Cousteau ethos. Meanwhile Audrey Tautou is spirited in an albeit slightly clichéd role as the loyal, loving but long-suffering wife, and Vincent Heneine also stands out as Cousteau’s equally loyal and bullish chief diver Albert ‘Bébert’ Falco.

Yet despite the efforts of the cast and the presence of tragedy in the narrative, ‘The Odyssey’ has limited emotional punch and feels too glossy and sanitised to paint a gripping portrait of characters you can really invest in. Salle understandably tries to subtly go beyond the iconography and public persona of Cousteau, which through his own choices had made him almost a caricature of himself. But the result is a rather innocuous dysfunctional family drama set in the backdrop of something which should be far more interesting, with a message of conservation—which although not heavy-handed—seems to conveniently weave its way through entire narrative.

Nevertheless thanks to the singular nature of its subject and his extraordinary true story, ‘The Odyssey’ may prove be a fascinating eye-opener for younger audience with little knowledge of the Cousteau legacy, or those with only a passing familiarity with the man’s exploits, his iconic vessel or his signature caps—plus it’s a noble call for oceanic conservation from one of its loudest voices . . . and a stylishly crafted one at that.

The Bottom Line…

Although not a completely engrossing or groundbreaking biopic, the first dramatic cinematic depiction of Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his legacy is a beautifully shot and scored, valiant effort at painting a portrait of the man behind the red cap—which is ultimately weighted more towards a slightly bland father/son dysfunctional family drama and an overarching message of conservation.

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