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Whenever I'm Alone with You (2025) by Guillaume Campanacci, Vesper Egon: A Godardian Anti-Romantic Comedy

  • Writer: dailyentertainment95
    dailyentertainment95
  • Aug 4
  • 5 min read

Short Summary: An Ode to Disordered Love

Whenever I'm Alone with You is a French independent anti-romantic comedy that serves as a love letter to the French New Wave cinema of Jean-Luc Godard. Co-written, co-directed, and co-starring Guillaume Campanacci and Vesper Egon, the film follows two seemingly lost souls: Guillaume, a suicidal man recovering from a failed relationship, and Vedrana, a woman in a dead-end partnership. They meet and form an unlikely, intense connection in the South of France, a bond that is soon tested by the sudden reappearance of Guillaume's pregnant ex-fiancée. The film intentionally defies conventional storytelling, using fragmented scenes and a rebellious punk energy to explore the messiness of modern love.

Detailed Summary: A Love Story in Fragments

  • The film opens with a provocative and self-aware monologue from Guillaume, who breaks the fourth wall to warn the audience that this is not a traditional romantic comedy.

  • We are introduced to Guillaume, a moody, chain-smoking Frenchman reeling from a botched suicide attempt and a recent breakup. His life is an aimless series of drunken escapades and existential despair.

  • Separately, we meet Vedrana, an intellectual and romantic spirit stuck in a loveless relationship. She is a woman who, in the film's own words, is "slowly dying" from boredom.

  • The two meet at a party and are instantly drawn to each other, forming a connection based on a shared disdain for the superficial world around them and a love for good books and conversation.

  • Their nascent relationship is thrown into chaos when Guillaume’s ex-fiancée shows up at his doorstep, pregnant with his child, forcing the couple to confront their own feelings and the difficult choices that lie ahead.

  • The narrative is not linear, but rather a series of vignettes and surreal, dreamlike sequences that reflect the characters' inner lives and the film's homage to the French New Wave.

Director's Vision: Breaking All the Rules

Guillaume Campanacci and Vesper Egon's vision was to create a film that is an "impetuous feast for all the senses." They were not interested in telling a conventional story but in using their film as a playground to explore cinematic style, emotion, and rebellion. The directors, who were also a former real-life couple, use their own semi-autobiographical experiences to create a raw and unfiltered portrayal of fractured love. Their use of color shifts, non-traditional cuts, and a rejection of standard narrative structure is a deliberate tribute to Jean-Luc Godard, proving that the poetic, rule-breaking beauty of the French New Wave can still feel fresh and relevant today.

Themes: The Absurdity of Modern Romance, Anti-Narrative, and Existential Despair

  • The Absurdity of Modern Romance: The film satirizes the conventions of romance and the expectations placed on couples. It argues that love is messy, chaotic, and often illogical, and that true connection can be found in the most unlikely of circumstances.

  • Anti-Narrative: The film rejects the need for a clear beginning, middle, and end. It embraces a fragmented, associative style, inviting the audience to put the pieces of the story together for themselves and to find meaning in the chaos.

  • Existential Despair: The film's characters are often consumed by existential dread and a feeling of being lost in the modern world. Their connection is a lifeline, a way to find meaning in an otherwise meaningless existence.

Key success factors: Homage to the French New Wave, unique style, and a personal touch

  • A Godardian Homage: The film's deep and unapologetic love for the French New Wave, particularly the work of Jean-Luc Godard, is a key selling point for arthouse film enthusiasts and cinephiles.

  • A Distinctive and Experimental Style: The film's unique aesthetic, which includes intentional breaks from cinematic rules, makes it stand out from the crowd and offers a fresh, challenging viewing experience.

  • A Semi-Autobiographical Narrative: The real-life relationship between the co-directors and stars adds an intimate and authentic layer to the story, making the characters' struggles feel raw and genuine.

  • Festival Success: The film's success at international film festivals, where it has already won numerous awards, has helped it gain a reputation as a noteworthy independent feature.

Awards and Nominations: A Festival Favorite

Whenever I'm Alone with You has been a major success on the international film festival circuit. It has won over 25 awards, including Best Actress at the Matera International Film Fest, and awards for Best Director, Best Feature Film, and Best Editing at various other festivals. It has been an official selection at festivals like the Oldenburg International Film Festival and the Cannes World Film Festival.

Critics reception: Highly Polarized

Critics' reception for Whenever I'm Alone with You has been highly polarized, with some celebrating its bold experimentation and others finding it self-indulgent.

  • The Internationales Filmfest Oldenburg praised the film as "hopelessly romantic and hilarious at the same time," calling it an "impetuous feast for all the senses" that successfully defies expectations.

  • FilmCarnage.com had a more mixed review, acknowledging the filmmakers' love for Jean-Luc Godard but arguing that the constant homage makes the film "lose its own identity." The review suggests that the film "feels more like the filmmakers were making something for themselves than for an audience."

  • UK Film Review was highly critical, calling the main characters "odious" and "interminably dull," and suggesting that the film's experimental style "butchers the scenes" and offers little to the viewer.

  • The site eXperiment was effusive in its praise, calling the film "a brave and experimental semi-documentary punk love story" and a "tribute to Jean-Luc Godard and Anna Karina."

Overall, the reception is divided between those who appreciate its avant-garde, rule-breaking approach and those who find its style and characters too alienating.

Reviews: Not Widely Available

Due to its nature as an independent film primarily screened at festivals, widespread audience reviews are not yet available. However, from the limited reviews that exist, it is clear that the film resonates deeply with viewers who appreciate arthouse cinema and a non-traditional approach to storytelling.

Why to watch this movie: A Daring Cinematic Experiment

  • A True Independent Film: This is an authentic, low-budget, and highly personal film that feels fresh and free from the constraints of mainstream cinema.

  • A Love Letter to Film History: For cinephiles and fans of the French New Wave, the film is a masterclass in homage, filled with visual and stylistic references that are both a joy and a challenge to decipher.

  • A Unique Take on Romance: If you're tired of formulaic romantic comedies, this film offers a raw, honest, and often absurd portrayal of modern relationships that is both captivating and thought-provoking.

  • Bold Filmmaking: The film's experimental style is a testament to bold, risk-taking filmmaking, proving that a lack of budget can be an asset when a creative team is willing to break all the rules.

Movie Trend: The Return of the Avant-Garde

Whenever I'm Alone with You is part of a trend to revive avant-garde and experimental filmmaking within a narrative context. This trend is a pushback against the polished, formulaic nature of much of modern cinema, and it aims to re-engage audiences with the power of style, emotion, and unconventional storytelling.

Social Trend: The Search for Authenticity in a Digital World

The film taps into the social trend of a younger generation's search for authenticity in an increasingly digital and curated world. Its characters' rebellion against societal norms, their existential despair, and their desire for a genuine, messy, and unscripted connection with another person resonate with an audience that is constantly navigating the complexities of online identity and the curated perfection of social media.

Final Verdict: A Flawed but Fun Ride

Whenever I'm Alone with You is a flawed but fascinating cinematic experiment. While its self-indulgent style and dislikable characters may not appeal to all viewers, its bold and unapologetic homage to the French New Wave, its unique visual language, and its raw emotional core make it a significant and memorable work. It is not a film to be watched with a desire for a traditional story, but for anyone who appreciates a daring, unconventional, and unapologetically rebellious work of art, it is an essential watch.


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