New Movies: Beating Hearts (2024) by Gilles Lellouche
- dailyentertainment95
- 19 hours ago
- 8 min read
Beating Hearts (2024) / L'Amour Ouf: An Epic Love Story Against a Backdrop of Crime
Description: "Beating Hearts" (original French title: "L'Amour Ouf") is a 2024 French-Belgian drama, musical, romance, crime, and thriller film directed by Gilles Lellouche. Adapted from Neville Thompson's 1997 Irish novel "Jackie Loves Johnser OK?", the film tells the epic, tumultuous love story of Clotaire and Jackie, spanning over two decades. Their intense adolescent connection is violently severed by gang involvement and crime, but despite years apart and vastly different lives, fate relentlessly pulls them back together. The film is noted for its ambitious blend of genres, its vibrant aesthetic, and its all-star French cast.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27490099/
Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/fr/film/lamour-ouf (France), https://www.justwatch.com/de/Film/beating-hearts (Germany), https://www.justwatch.com/es/pelicula/lamour-ouf (Spain)
Detailed Summary: Set in the working-class neighborhoods of Northern France, "Beating Hearts" introduces us to teenagers Clotaire (Malik Frikah as young Clotaire; François Civil as adult Clotaire) and Jackie (Mallory Wanecque as young Jackie; Adèle Exarchopoulos as adult Jackie) in the 1980s. She is a diligent student from a middle-class background, while he is a charming but rebellious troublemaker from a more modest background, frequently drawn into petty crime and gang violence. Despite their differences, an intense and undeniable first love blossoms between them. Their budding romance, characterized by youthful exuberance and defiance, is abruptly shattered when Clotaire is charged with a crime he didn't commit, leading to his imprisonment.
The film then fast-forwards approximately a decade later, following Clotaire's release from jail. Both Clotaire and Jackie have led profoundly different lives, marked by the separation and their contrasting paths. However, the powerful connection they once shared persists, and destiny seems determined to reunite them. The narrative follows their arduous journey to rediscover each other and rekindle their love, all while navigating the dark shadows of Clotaire's past and his lingering quest for revenge against those who wronged him. The film blends elements of a gritty crime thriller, a sweeping romance, and even musical sequences, creating a visually rich and emotionally charged cinematic experience that examines whether love can truly conquer all, even the deepest scars of violence and betrayal.
Plot Summary:
Star-Crossed Teenagers: Clotaire, a rebellious youth, falls deeply in love with Jackie, a diligent student, in a working-class French neighborhood in the 1980s.
Violent Separation: Their intense first love is tragically broken when Clotaire's involvement in gang violence leads to his imprisonment.
Reunion and Redemption: After years apart, the two lead vastly different lives but are drawn back together, forcing them to confront the past and Clotaire's quest for revenge.
Genre-Bending Epic: The story unfolds as a blend of romance, crime thriller, and musical elements, exploring the power of love against a backdrop of societal challenges and violence.
Director's Vision: Gilles Lellouche's vision for "Beating Hearts" is highly ambitious and expansive. Having achieved significant success with his previous film "Sink or Swim," Lellouche aims to create an epic "romantic banlieue opera" that transcends typical genre boundaries. He explicitly draws inspiration from the US independent film wave of the 1980s and early 1990s, aiming for a kinetic, vibrant, and impactful cinematic experience. Lellouche seeks to explore themes of love, revenge, youth, rage, and class, all while maintaining an extraordinarily lively tone. He integrates strong performances, vibrant production design, and dynamic camerawork, attempting to create a film that is both stylistically bold and deeply emotional, even if it risks being "overloaded" with its many elements.
Themes:
Destiny vs. Free Will: The narrative explores whether the "star-crossed lovers" are truly destined to be together, despite external circumstances and personal choices.
Love and Obsession: Examines the intense, almost obsessive nature of first love and its enduring power over time, even through separation and hardship.
Social Class and Environment: Highlights how upbringing and societal circumstances in a troubled neighborhood can shape individual paths and contribute to cycles of violence.
Revenge and Forgiveness: Clotaire's journey is deeply tied to his quest for revenge, raising questions about justice, closure, and the possibility of moving beyond past grievances.
Loss of Innocence: The film portrays the harsh realities that force its young protagonists to mature rapidly, losing their innocence in the face of violence and crime.
Key Success Factors:
Ambitious Genre Blend: Its fusion of romance, crime, drama, and musical elements makes it a unique and potentially captivating cinematic experience.
All-Star French Cast: The presence of highly acclaimed actors like Adèle Exarchopoulos, François Civil, and supporting veterans like Benoît Poelvoorde and Alain Chabat enhances its appeal.
Strong Directorial Vision: Gilles Lellouche's established reputation and his ambitious artistic choices create high expectations for the film.
Epic Scope and Runtime: The film's nearly three-hour runtime and sweeping narrative promise a grand, immersive cinematic journey.
Cannes Competition Premiere: Its selection for the Palme d'Or competition at Cannes 2024 immediately established its prominence and artistic merit.
Summary Short: "Beating Hearts" (L'Amour Ouf) is a 2024 French-Belgian romantic crime drama directed by Gilles Lellouche. It follows the epic, two-decade love story of Clotaire (François Civil) and Jackie (Adèle Exarchopoulos), whose adolescent romance is shattered by gang violence and prison. Despite years apart, they are continually drawn back together, navigating revenge, crime, and the enduring power of their connection. The film premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2024 and is set for a French theatrical release on October 16, 2024.
Awards and Nominations:
Official Selection, Main Competition: Cannes Film Festival 2024 (Palme d'Or Contender)
Expected nominations for César Awards 2025 (already predicted with 12 nominations, including Best Director)
Official Selection, Limelight: International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2025
Official Selection: Göteborg Film Festival 2025
Critics Reception: Critical reception for "Beating Hearts" following its Cannes premiere has been mixed to positive, acknowledging its ambition and visual flair but often divided on its extensive runtime and tonal consistency.
Metacritic Score: 50/100 (Mixed or Average) based on 7 critic reviews.
Positive Remarks: Critics praised the strong performances from Adèle Exarchopoulos and François Civil, the vibrant production design, kinetic camerawork, and Lellouche's clear passion. Some called it "terrific and unexpectedly potent" (Deadline) and an "extraordinarily lively work of cinema" (The Film Verdict).
Mixed/Negative Remarks: Common criticisms revolved around its almost three-hour runtime, which some felt was "unnecessary stretched out" (IMDb user) or "overstays its welcome" (FilmInk). Some found the blend of genres and frequent needle drops to be "overwrought" or "kitsch" (Cineuropa), bordering on cliché or lacking consistent emotional connection despite its visual punch.
Overall Summary: While not a universal critical darling, "Beating Hearts" is recognized as an ambitious and visually striking film that elicits strong reactions, affirming Lellouche as a bold director willing to take risks.
Reviews: Reviews highlight both the film's strengths and its perceived weaknesses:
Variety (Guy Lodge): Noted that the film "never bores" and praised the "ever-electric Adèle Exarchopoulos" and "François Civil," along with the "consistent, cartwheeling kineticism" of Lellouche's direction.
The Hollywood Reporter: Was more critical, describing it as a "hodgepodge of movie clichés and overwrought scenes, directed with zero tact and plenty of pounding needle drops," calling it "a serious assault on the viewer's intelligence."
Screen Daily (Tim Grierson): Felt the film "works better in its first half when their adolescent counterparts take centre stage, seizing on the irrepressible excitement of first love," suggesting the adult narrative is less compelling.
Cineuropa (Fabien Lemercier): Called it "overflowing and overloaded," and "frenetically attempting to mix together... Romeo and Juliet, Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas, Michael Mann's Heat... and Wild at Heart."
IMDb User Reviews: Reflect a wider range of opinions, from "incredible and raw drama" to "waaaay too long" and "style over substance."
Overall Summary: The film is generally seen as a visually impressive, high-energy, and ambitious romantic epic, but one that polarizes critics regarding its length, tonal balance, and narrative coherence.
Box Office: "Beating Hearts (2024)" is a major French production with a reported budget of €35 million. It is expected to be a significant box office contender in France, following Gilles Lellouche's previous success with "Sink or Swim" which garnered 5 million admissions.
French Theatrical Release: Scheduled for October 16, 2024.
European Theatrical Releases: Belgium (Oct 16, 2024), Switzerland (Oct 16, 2024), Spain (Dec 5, 2024), Poland (Dec 13, 2024), Germany (Jan 23, 2025).
Early French Box Office Predictions: Positive, given director's track record and star power.
Production: "Beating Hearts (2024)" (Original title: "L'Amour Ouf") is a French-Belgian co-production. It has a lengthy runtime of 165 minutes (2 hours 45 minutes), or 166 minutes depending on the source. It is presented in color and primarily in French. The film was directed by Gilles Lellouche and written by Lellouche, Audrey Diwan (who directed "Happening"), Ahmed Hamidi, Julien Lambroschini, and Neville Thompson (based on his novel "Jackie Loves Johnser OK?"). The score was composed by Jon Brion. The cinematography was handled by Laurent Tangy.
Production Companies:
Trésor Films
Chi-Fou-Mi Productions
StudioCanal
France 2 Cinéma
RTBF (Belgian public broadcaster)
Artemis Productions (Belgium)
Proximus Group (Belgium)
BeTV (Belgium)
Shelter Prod
Cool Industrie
Pictanovo Région Hauts-de-France
Sales Companies:
StudioCanal (handles international sales rights)
Distribution Companies:
StudioCanal (France, UK, Germany, ANZ)
Cinéart (Benelux)
Filmcoopi (Switzerland)
Youplanet Pictures (Spain)
Kino Świat (Poland)
Palace (Australia/New Zealand - for Alliance Française French Film Festival 2025)
Why You Should Watch This Movie:
A Grand, Ambitious Epic: If you appreciate large-scale cinema that attempts to blend multiple genres (romance, crime, musical) and spans decades, "Beating Hearts" offers a unique and immersive experience.
Gilles Lellouche's Bold Vision: As the follow-up to his critically acclaimed "Sink or Swim," Lellouche demonstrates his desire to push boundaries and create visually striking, high-energy films.
Stellar French Cast: Featuring two of French cinema's most compelling young talents, Adèle Exarchopoulos and François Civil, alongside a strong ensemble, the film promises powerful and captivating performances.
Cannes Competition Recognition: Its inclusion in the prestigious Palme d'Or competition at Cannes signifies its high artistic standing and makes it a must-watch for film enthusiasts.
A Unique Take on a Love Story: This is not a conventional romance; it's a "romantic banlieue opera" exploring love's resilience against the brutal realities of crime, social class, and the passage of time.
Why to Watch Movie:
If you enjoy sweeping romantic sagas: It's a love story spanning two decades with significant challenges.
To experience a bold genre blend: It mixes drama, romance, crime, and even musical elements.
For high-quality French cinema: Features a renowned director and top-tier actors.
If you appreciate ambitious filmmaking: Lellouche's vision is grand and pushes cinematic boundaries.
To see Cannes-selected films: It competed for the Palme d'Or at one of the world's most prestigious festivals.
What Movie Trend Film Is Following: Ambitious French Genre Films: The film aligns with a trend of French cinema moving beyond traditional drama to explore more expansive, genre-blending narratives with high production values. It also follows the trend of epic, decades-spanning romantic dramas, often with a darker, more realistic edge.
What Big Social Trend Is Following: The film, by depicting characters from working-class backgrounds and involving them in gang violence and crime, implicitly touches on themes of social inequality, urban disillusionment, and the impact of environment on life choices, particularly for youth.
Final Verdict: "Beating Hearts (2024)" is an ambitious and visually striking cinematic undertaking from Gilles Lellouche. Its blend of genres, a compelling love story against a gritty backdrop, and a powerhouse cast led by Adèle Exarchopoulos and François Civil make it a significant and memorable French film. While its length and stylistic choices have garnered mixed critical reactions, its sheer energy and passionate storytelling promise a deeply immersive experience. As a Cannes competitor and a major French release, it is set to be a significant work that challenges conventional notions of the romantic epic.
Recommendations for Film Makers:
Don't Fear Ambitious Genre Blends: Explore how different genres can be woven together to create a unique and complex narrative, even if it's challenging.
Invest in Strong Visuals and Production Design: For epic stories, a vibrant and authentic visual style can greatly enhance the film's immersive quality.
Embrace Long Form if Necessary: If a story truly requires a longer runtime to develop its characters and themes, be confident in that choice, understanding it may divide audiences but can lead to a more profound experience.
Recommendations for Movie Industry:
Support Bold Artistic Visions: Encourage directors to take risks and experiment with genre, narrative structure, and thematic depth, even if it leads to polarizing results.
Promote International Co-Productions: Highlight the value of international collaborations (like French-Belgian) in pooling resources and talent to create larger, more ambitious films.
Leverage Festival Buzz for Distribution: Use premieres at top-tier festivals like Cannes as a springboard for global distribution, capitalizing on early critical attention and prestige.
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