SISTER
****
Director: Ursula Meier
Screenwriter: Ursula Meier, Antoine Jaccoud and Gilles Taurand
Principal cast:
Kacey Mottet Klein
Léa Seydoux
Martin Compston
Gillian Anderson
Jean-François Stévenin
Yann Trégouët
Country: France/Switzerland
Classification: M
Runtime: 97 mins.
Australian release date: 31 October 2013
There are two sides to every story and Sister, directed by Ursula Meier, is a classic example. It is set in two locations, one at the top of a mountain in a ski resort somewhere in the Alps in Switzerland and the other in a block of dreary concrete apartments at the bottom. Here we are introduced to a young boy, Simon (Kacey Mottet Klein) and his older sibling, Louise (Lea Seydoux). Louise often disappears for days on end, leaving her 12-year-old brother to fend for himself in the bleak industrial wasteland.
Simon is totally adept at his mission to survive. He takes the ski-lift daily up to the resort and spends his time skilfully stealing anything he can re-sell. His loot is mainly ski gear, which ranges from clothing to equipment. The skis are transported back down to his apartment where he fastidiously re-waxes their blades so they can be sold as new. He even uses the road leading up to the resort for his mobile stall which attracts a passing trade. You get the feeling that the buyers know that the stuff is ‘hot’ but who cares? After all, the ‘bourgeoisie’ embrace a bargain like everyone else!
Simon befriends one of the ski chalet chefs, Mike (Martin Compston), who is British and there to work during the snow season. Mike is after the latest skis which he plans to take back to the UK and sell for a profit. Simon also establishes an acquaintance with a woman, Kristen (Gillian Anderson), who he meets one day in the open-air café at the ski resort. She is obviously wealthy and, curious about Simon, asks him questions about his life but, along with his other talents, Simon is a consummate liar. Meanwhile, Louise is like a yo-yo, going backwards and forwards, returning on one occasion with a black eye, a souvenir from one of her rat bag acquaintances. She is always broke and seems to have an emotional hold over her brother, who steals a jacket to make sure she does not suffer from the cold. He also provides for her financially; at one point, in a heart wrenching scene, he pays her just so he can be close to her. It is obvious that Simon has great affection for Louise and herein lies the secret that is the heart of the movie.
This is a film of great emotional intensity. The performances are excellent - heart-breaking at times. Agnès Godard’s cinematography captures the bleak, hostile, yet at times breathtakingly beautiful scenery, perfectly. It is the constant juxtaposition of the two locations that keep the storyline on such an edge, for they represent the disparity between rich and poor… and truth and lies. It is interesting to note that one of the co-writers, Antoine Jaccoud, is a sociologist. Sister missed out on being nominated the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2013 Oscars; however, it comes with great cred as it won the Silver Bear in Berlin in 2012, when Mike Leigh helmed the jury. Enough said.
Screenwriter: Ursula Meier, Antoine Jaccoud and Gilles Taurand
Principal cast:
Kacey Mottet Klein
Léa Seydoux
Martin Compston
Gillian Anderson
Jean-François Stévenin
Yann Trégouët
Country: France/Switzerland
Classification: M
Runtime: 97 mins.
Australian release date: 31 October 2013
There are two sides to every story and Sister, directed by Ursula Meier, is a classic example. It is set in two locations, one at the top of a mountain in a ski resort somewhere in the Alps in Switzerland and the other in a block of dreary concrete apartments at the bottom. Here we are introduced to a young boy, Simon (Kacey Mottet Klein) and his older sibling, Louise (Lea Seydoux). Louise often disappears for days on end, leaving her 12-year-old brother to fend for himself in the bleak industrial wasteland.
Simon is totally adept at his mission to survive. He takes the ski-lift daily up to the resort and spends his time skilfully stealing anything he can re-sell. His loot is mainly ski gear, which ranges from clothing to equipment. The skis are transported back down to his apartment where he fastidiously re-waxes their blades so they can be sold as new. He even uses the road leading up to the resort for his mobile stall which attracts a passing trade. You get the feeling that the buyers know that the stuff is ‘hot’ but who cares? After all, the ‘bourgeoisie’ embrace a bargain like everyone else!
Simon befriends one of the ski chalet chefs, Mike (Martin Compston), who is British and there to work during the snow season. Mike is after the latest skis which he plans to take back to the UK and sell for a profit. Simon also establishes an acquaintance with a woman, Kristen (Gillian Anderson), who he meets one day in the open-air café at the ski resort. She is obviously wealthy and, curious about Simon, asks him questions about his life but, along with his other talents, Simon is a consummate liar. Meanwhile, Louise is like a yo-yo, going backwards and forwards, returning on one occasion with a black eye, a souvenir from one of her rat bag acquaintances. She is always broke and seems to have an emotional hold over her brother, who steals a jacket to make sure she does not suffer from the cold. He also provides for her financially; at one point, in a heart wrenching scene, he pays her just so he can be close to her. It is obvious that Simon has great affection for Louise and herein lies the secret that is the heart of the movie.
This is a film of great emotional intensity. The performances are excellent - heart-breaking at times. Agnès Godard’s cinematography captures the bleak, hostile, yet at times breathtakingly beautiful scenery, perfectly. It is the constant juxtaposition of the two locations that keep the storyline on such an edge, for they represent the disparity between rich and poor… and truth and lies. It is interesting to note that one of the co-writers, Antoine Jaccoud, is a sociologist. Sister missed out on being nominated the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2013 Oscars; however, it comes with great cred as it won the Silver Bear in Berlin in 2012, when Mike Leigh helmed the jury. Enough said.