"My Zoe" (2019 release from Germany; 101 min.) brings the story of Isabelle and her 7 yr. old daughter Zoe. As the movie opens, Isabelle is dropping off Zoe at school somewhere in Berlin. Afterwards, Isabelle gets in a heated argument with her ex James, Zoe's father, about the schedule of who gets to see Zoe when. Upon getting home from school, Zoe starts sneezing, as if she has a cold but she doesn't have a fever. It sets in motion a disastrous series of events... At this point we are 10 min. into the movie but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: Julie Delpy is best known in the US for co-starring in the "Before" trilogy with Ethan Hawke (Before Sunrise; Before Sunset; Before Midnight). "My Zoe" is the latest labor of love from Julie Delpy. Let's count the ways: she stars (as Isabelle), she writes, she produces, she directs, and for good measure, she also wrote the music playing over the movie's end credits AND she performs (solo piano). Wow. But does it make for a good movie? Sadly, in this case it does not, and I will even say that this is a shockingly poor movie on so many levels. Where to begin? Let's start with the interplay between Isabelle and James as the sparring exes. These scenes feel completely unnatural and very staged. In particular Richard Armitage (as James) comes across as wooden. But "My Zoe" entirely jumps the shark a good hour into the movie when there is a plot change that is as unexpected as it is utterly laughable and entirely unbelievable (I shan't say more). It's a darn shame. There isn't a single second of music in the entire movie, that is until the end credits start rolling and a beautiful solo piano piece starts playing. Turns out that is Delpy herself. Too bad she didn't add some more of this in the movie itself. I wish I could be more positive about this film, as I absolutely love Julie Delpy, but in the case "My Zoe" misfires badly, sad to say.
"My Zoe" premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, yes 18 months ago. It was supposed to open in US theaters in the Spring of 2020, but then a little thing called COVID-19 had other plans. Now a year later, "My Zoe" opened out of the blue this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati, and I couldn't wait to see it . The Friday early evening screening where I saw this at was not attended well: 1 other person besides myself, and the guy left after an hour and didn't return. I almost did likewise, but didn't as I was just curious how much further this film could jump the shark (as it turs out: a LOT). I cannot recommend this film in good conscience to anyone, but of course don't take my word for it, and check it out for yourself if you have the chance, be it in the theater (?), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: Julie Delpy is best known in the US for co-starring in the "Before" trilogy with Ethan Hawke (Before Sunrise; Before Sunset; Before Midnight). "My Zoe" is the latest labor of love from Julie Delpy. Let's count the ways: she stars (as Isabelle), she writes, she produces, she directs, and for good measure, she also wrote the music playing over the movie's end credits AND she performs (solo piano). Wow. But does it make for a good movie? Sadly, in this case it does not, and I will even say that this is a shockingly poor movie on so many levels. Where to begin? Let's start with the interplay between Isabelle and James as the sparring exes. These scenes feel completely unnatural and very staged. In particular Richard Armitage (as James) comes across as wooden. But "My Zoe" entirely jumps the shark a good hour into the movie when there is a plot change that is as unexpected as it is utterly laughable and entirely unbelievable (I shan't say more). It's a darn shame. There isn't a single second of music in the entire movie, that is until the end credits start rolling and a beautiful solo piano piece starts playing. Turns out that is Delpy herself. Too bad she didn't add some more of this in the movie itself. I wish I could be more positive about this film, as I absolutely love Julie Delpy, but in the case "My Zoe" misfires badly, sad to say.
"My Zoe" premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, yes 18 months ago. It was supposed to open in US theaters in the Spring of 2020, but then a little thing called COVID-19 had other plans. Now a year later, "My Zoe" opened out of the blue this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati, and I couldn't wait to see it . The Friday early evening screening where I saw this at was not attended well: 1 other person besides myself, and the guy left after an hour and didn't return. I almost did likewise, but didn't as I was just curious how much further this film could jump the shark (as it turs out: a LOT). I cannot recommend this film in good conscience to anyone, but of course don't take my word for it, and check it out for yourself if you have the chance, be it in the theater (?), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.