Les herbes folles

From legendary French filmmaker Alain Resnais comes this oddball, increasingly unwatchable effort revolving around the complications that ensue after André Dussollier’s Georges happens upon Marguerite’s (Sabine Azéma) stolen wallet, with the bulk of the proceedings subsequently detailing the back-and-forth dynamic that ensues between the two far-from-authentic characters. Resnais does a nice job of initially drawing the viewer into the heightened reality within which the movie transpires, as the director emphasizes stylish visuals and expectedly quirky structural choices to mostly positive effect. The pervasively off-the-wall atmosphere becomes increasingly difficult to stomach as Les herbes folles progresses, however, with the complete absence of plot effectively exacerbating the movie’s aggressively pointless sensibilities. There simply reaches a point at which Resnais appears to be stressing weirdness for weirdness’ sake, and one’s efforts at indulging the storied filmmaker can only carry the proceedings so far (ie the relentlessly arty vibe slowly but surely wears the viewer down). By the time the movie arrives at its laughably baffling final line – seriously, has there ever been a closing bit of dialogue that made less sense? – Les herbes folles has cemented its place as a hopelessly misguided and thoroughly dull piece of work that’s unlikely to hold much appeal for even Resnais’ most ardent fans.

* out of ****