Free adaptation of the short story of the same name by Henry James, La bête dans la jungle is a new delightful OFNI signed Patric Chiha. Anaïs Demoustier and Tom Mercier are formidable in this atmospheric and highly romantic work.
1979. May (Anaïs Demoustier), in her twenties, is a night owl. She loves going to the capital's nightclubs with her trendy friends. As she goes to a new establishment that does not yet have a name, she recognizes John (Tom Mercier), a handsome boy who had deeply marked her ten years earlier. She was then just a teenager and, as one can guess, had fallen under his spell when he revealed to her an enigmatic secret: something, "the thing," would one day happen to her...
John does not recognize May and does not really remember this meeting at first. Then the memory vaguely returns. No matter: May and John will become friends, night companions. Obviously, May is in love and hopes that her patience will be rewarded by following John in his bubble. But the mysterious romantic beau will remain unfathomable, asexual. For 25 years, from 1979 to 2004, they will wait for "the thing" to happen, meeting every Saturday night in the same nightclub. Will the long-awaited thing finally happen?
Patric Chiha is here faithful to his obsessions and we find in La bête dans la jungle his taste and talent for creating unique atmospheres, plunging us into the heart of the night, of reverie, among moving bodies. This work is definitely divisive, does not and will not please everyone. Because it is sometimes theatrical, because it is conceptual, because it prefers to be free rather than to please the masses. And for sure, those who end up bewitched by it will not forget it anytime soon. That is my case and I must say that it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful French films I have seen in theaters in 2023.
Already, what a beautiful cast! Anaïs Demoustier is as always super accurate, immediately makes her character of lovesick, dreamy and sacrificial woman very endearing. At first glance, one would not necessarily imagine her as a trendy clubber and yet she is formidable. The character of May is our point of reference, the one who bridges reality and reverie. Tom Mercier finds here a new magnetic and beautifully strange role after his wonderful performances in the film Synonymes and in the series We are who we are. Always dressed in his suit jacket and shirt, elegant and timeless, with a smooth and angelic face, he seems to come from another planet in the guise of John. A completely unique romantic hero, rather asocial, certainly melancholic, with an enchanting charm. He will prove to be a delicious and poisonous trap for May, who will devote 25 years of her life to him. Finally, Béatrice Dalle has a sympathetic supporting role that suits her perfectly, that of a mischievous bouncer, with a delicately evil look and maternal tenderness that can emerge at any moment.
The cast is perfect but what above all makes the charm of the project is its enveloping form, which encircles us, draws us in, leading us to lose ourselves too in the night, forgetting time, daylight, real life. We become accomplices in May and John's games and like them we stay there, silent, watching the dancing bodies, the generations parading as the nocturnal musical currents mutate.
If the mystery around "The thing" is what piques curiosity at first, establishing a certain suspense, in the end its real meaning does not matter. The emotion, the poetic and tragic beauty of the whole lies in this boy and this girl who wait for something that is beyond them, immaterial, stronger than life. Rarely has the grace of a love beyond labels, which does without words, been so beautifully materialized on screen. May and John do not need long conversations, being next to each other looking in the same direction, waiting for something at the same time is enough for them.
A bit like them, we do not necessarily want to put words on what we see and on what we experience watching this very singular, sensory, modest film, a fascinating declaration of love to the night and to reverie. We come out of it as if from a trance, a long dream, with the desire to return.
Comments
I find the idea of May and John meeting every Saturday night for 25 years pretty haunting. The way John stays so enigmatic and asexual adds to the suspense, especially with this mysterious 'thing' always looming in the background. It sounds like the film really leans into atmosphere and unanswered questions.
I found the idea of waiting for 'the thing' all these years really intriguing—it adds a quiet tension to the relationship between May and John. It seems the film captures that slow-burning obsession and mystery in a way that feels quite intimate.
I find the idea of waiting for 'the thing' over 25 years really intriguing, especially how the story captures that lingering sense of hope and mystery between May and John. It seems the film’s atmosphere and the complex dynamic between the characters bring the original Henry James story to life in a subtle but impactful way.
I found the idea of waiting for 'the thing' to happen over 25 years really haunting. It’s intriguing how the film captures that blend of hope and uncertainty in May and John's long friendship, especially with Anaïs Demoustier’s portrayal of a night owl in the vibrant 70s Parisian club scene.
I found the idea of waiting for "the thing" for 25 years really compelling. It seems like this slow-burning tension between May and John adds a unique depth to the story, especially with how their relationship evolves within the nightclub setting.
I found the idea of waiting for 'the thing' over 25 years in the same nightclub really intriguing. It’s interesting how Patric Chiha captures that mix of hope and uncertainty in May’s long obsession, and I think Anaïs Demoustier’s portrayal must add a lot to the atmosphere.
I was really drawn to how May keeps returning to the nightclub every Saturday, waiting for 'the thing' that John promised. The way their connection stretches over 25 years feels both hopeful and achingly uncertain, especially with John remaining so mysterious.
The idea of May and John meeting every Saturday night for 25 years really caught my attention. I’m curious how the film handles the tension of waiting for 'the thing' to happen, and how their relationship changes (or doesn’t) over all that time.
I find the idea of May and John meeting every Saturday for 25 years so intriguing, especially since the whole relationship seems to hover around this mysterious 'thing' John mentioned. The setting in late-70s nightclubs adds such an atmospheric backdrop to their odd, drawn-out connection.
I really liked how the story captures that mix of nostalgia and mystery with May and John's long, slow dance around their feelings. The idea of waiting for something unknown to happen over decades feels quite poignant and haunting.
I’m intrigued by how May and John’s connection stretches over 25 years, always meeting in the same nightclub. The idea of waiting for 'the thing' to happen feels both haunting and relatable, and I wonder how their dynamic changes as time passes.
I found the idea of waiting for "the thing" for 25 years really haunting and beautiful. It seems like the film captures that bittersweet mix of hope and uncertainty in May and John's long friendship perfectly.
I was really intrigued by the idea of May and John meeting every Saturday for 25 years, waiting for 'the thing' to happen. The way you described May's patience and John's unfathomable nature makes their relationship sound both haunting and strangely tender.
I was really drawn to how the story explores the passage of time through May and John's repeated nightclub meetings. The idea of waiting for 'the thing' to happen adds such a haunting, almost poetic tension to their relationship.
I really liked how the story captures the slow, almost haunting passage of time between May and John. The idea of waiting for "the thing" while meeting in the same nightclub every week feels both romantic and a bit tragic, which adds a lot of depth to their connection.
I find the idea of May and John meeting every Saturday night over 25 years really compelling, especially since they're waiting for this mysterious 'thing' to happen. The way John remains distant and enigmatic adds a bittersweet tension to their relationship that feels both frustrating and fascinating.
I found the idea of May and John waiting for 'the thing' over 25 years strangely compelling. The way their relationship unfolds in the nightclub setting, with May’s unspoken hope and John's enigmatic distance, feels bittersweet. It makes me wonder how much of our lives we spend anticipating something undefined.
I found the idea of waiting for "the thing" across decades really intriguing. It seems to capture that bittersweet sense of longing and uncertainty, especially with May’s lasting hope against John’s distant demeanor. The nightclubs as a backdrop add a nice atmospheric touch to their story.
I found the dynamic between May and John really intriguing, especially how their relationship unfolds over such a long time without ever reaching a clear resolution. The idea of waiting for 'the thing' feels both haunting and strangely poetic, capturing the tension between hope and uncertainty.
The idea of waiting for 'the thing' to happen every Saturday over 25 years is strangely haunting. I think the way May’s hope contrasts with John’s enigmatic detachment sets up a bittersweet tension, especially in the nightclub setting. It makes me curious how their relationship develops through all that time.
I found the idea of waiting for 'the thing' to happen over decades really intriguing—it adds this slow-building tension to the story that feels both haunting and deeply human. The dynamic between May and John seems complicated in a way that’s hard to pin down, which makes me curious about how their relationship evolves.
I was really intrigued by how May and John meet again in the unnamed nightclub. The idea of waiting together every Saturday for 'the thing' to happen over 25 years sounds both haunting and strangely hopeful. It makes me wonder how their relationship shifts over all that time.
I find the idea of May and John meeting every Saturday night for 25 years strangely captivating. The way May clings to John's enigmatic promise about 'the thing' makes their connection feel both haunting and bittersweet. It seems like the nightclub setting almost becomes a character itself over time.
I find the idea of May and John meeting every Saturday night for 25 years really intriguing, especially with that promise of 'the thing' looming over them. The way their relationship hovers between friendship and something more seems both frustrating and captivating.
I found the dynamic between May and John really intriguing, especially how their story slowly unfolds over 25 years of Saturday nights. The idea of waiting for 'the thing' feels both haunting and strangely relatable—it seems like the film captures that quiet tension well.
I was intrigued by how May and John keep returning to the same nightclub every Saturday for 25 years, waiting for 'the thing' to happen. The idea of such persistent, almost ritualistic anticipation creates a unique tension in their relationship. I think the film's atmosphere must capture that sense of longing really well.