Paris Belongs To Them. Bertrand Bonello’s Nocturama.

Adam Bat
Adam Bat
Aug 24, 2017 · 1 min read

Bertrand Bonello’s Nocturama is a shock to the heart, and a shock to the senses.

Tracing the build up to, and fallout from of a co-ordinated terrorist attack in Paris, the film couldn’t be more timely. Recalling the work of Costa-Gavras, Bonello’s is a work borne of nihilism and frustration, with the collected youth of a nation represented by a group of diverse individuals. Tired of the political machinations of modern day France, the group take it upon themselves to ring in chaos, with a series of bombings across the city.

The political concerns around which the film revolve are merely alluded to in the text of the movie itself, but it’s clear that Bonello is channeling a heightened version of contemporary concerns here. The whole thing plays out like a digital rendering of Mai ’68, with post-millenial angst and feelings of hereditary disillusionment playing in to that.

The finished film is a striking, highly affecting piece of work.

Hope Lies at 24 Frames Per Second.

From À Bout de Souffle to Zazie dans la métro, Hope Lies at 24 Frames Per Second attempts to cover every corner of the cinematic spectrum.

)

Adam Bat

Written by

Adam Bat

Unwavering auteurist. Almost award-winning freelance writer on cinema and film programmer (Sight & Sound, Eureka Video). Likes French movies.

Hope Lies at 24 Frames Per Second.

From À Bout de Souffle to Zazie dans la métro, Hope Lies at 24 Frames Per Second attempts to cover every corner of the cinematic spectrum.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade