Friday Night (Vendredi soir)

Claire Denis

France 2002 | 90 min | 35 mm | colour | 1:1,85 | Pathé Distribution
French version, Czech and English subtitles

Story about one evening floating between dream and reality, surrounded by a rather mysterious atmosphere. The film manages with almost non existing dialogues and dramatical structure.

The main character of this film (based on popular short story by Emmanuele Bernheim) is about to move in her boyfriend’s place – just before that she decides to go for dinner with her friends. On the way there she gets stuck in traffic jam and bumps into a man who needs a ride… Story of one strange evening that diverts present course of life of the main character (Valeria Lemercier) is emphasizing ambivalent tenseness between main characters. Slightly mysterious atmosphere of an unrepeatable moment is provided by characteristically sensual and thrilling camera of Agnes Godard. Oscillating between dream and reality, this minimalist film can do without abundance of dialogues or strict dramatic structure. Its strange charm consists in a “fluidity” of images and overall openness of meaning.