By José Alberto Hermosillo
“Annette” is a sublime, evocative, and artistic avant-garde musical with many symbolic elements representing love, betrayal, misadventure, and vengeance.
“Annette’s” splashy, elaborate musical numbers, combined with fast-paced editing, showcase a clear, mature style in directing and experimental filmmaking. The narrative becomes existentialist when the main characters’ quest for self-realization begins. They desperately try to find the true meaning of their mundane lives.
The musical opens with an emblematic continuous shot from inside a recording studio to the busy streets of Santa Monica, California. We can start recognizing some familiar faces right from the lively opening of that magnificent, yet minimalist, overture. Along with the main characters, we see the fantastic duo of Sparks, the stylish chorus, and visionary director Leos Carax (“Holy Motors,” “Mister Lonely”), who introduces the film by playing himself as the music producer. “Annette” is Carax’s best work so far.
The romance between the well-known comedian Henry McHenry (Adam Driver) and the celebrated opera singer Ann Defrasnoux (Marion Cotillard) begins as casual dating in Los Angeles, where they start their love story.
From then on, all attention focuses on Henry. In his one-man show, he announces his engagement to Ann.
After Ann’s opera performance, paparazzi and journalists wait outside the theater, singing and huddling around the famous couple. Henry and Ann choose to hide their identities under motorcycle helmets. Hollywood life takes us to a red carpet where they exchange vows, symbolizing their marriage. Ann, the bride, throws the bouquet to the eager media as they exit the scene, while they express their love for each other musically in a more private setting.
Good taste prevails in all musical numbers, even with “We love each other so much” singing while having sex and not in the shower, precisely as ordinary people do. Nevertheless, the arrival of their first baby will change their lives forever.
As their marriage continues, the dramatic music rises to a crescendo—suggesting an extramarital affair. As we mentioned, the story focuses on the distortion and deconstruction of Henry, the infamous and irreverent comedian with low self-esteem and many addictions. Henry’s stand-up shows are worth our full attention because he foreshadows his next moves in his intimate and outrageous monologues. Ann feels trapped in a toxic relationship. She and her innocent baby, Annette, plan to move out once and for all.
French-born Oscar-winning Marion Cotillard is exquisite, delicate, and gentle as her character becomes haunting. Adam Driver’s performance is mature, possibly his most challenging to date, surpassing his work in “Marriage Story.”
The music grows more obscure as everyone experiences a series of tragic events. The American pop and rock duo Sparks crafted complex lyrics and alluring music. The band previously recorded “The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman” for a tour, but the logistics of traveling with such a large cast were difficult. Once, Leos Carax used a Sparks song in “Holy Motors.”
After meeting in Cannes a few years ago, they decided to collaborate on this fantastic musical. Caroline Champetier is responsible for the sumptuous cinematography of “Annette.” She has also directed other luminous works in France, like “Of Gods and Men” and “The Innocents.”
“Annette” is either complacent or disappointing. Set in Los Angeles, the romance has nothing to do with “La La Land,” and its musical numbers are not comparable to the frenetic pace of “Moulin Rouge!” because “Annette” is sober and entirely unique in every sense.
“Annette’s” stunning visuals and originality keep our attention while we wonder, “What in the world are we watching?”
“Annette” is open to interpretation. When we reach its shocking, overwhelming, and beautiful grand finale, it’s breathtaking and prompts us to consider the importance of karma, since what goes around comes around.
After all, our lives are like lavish musicals where we meet fascinating people, fall in love, get married, have children, watch them grow, make mistakes, and learn from those wrong choices. As we regain control of our souls, we may find time to reflect deeply on how our actions affect others.
“Annette” was the opening film and won Best Director at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. The operatic musical is something we’ve never seen before—completely original!
As I finished watching “Annette,” I desperately wanted to rewind and watch it again, hoping my faithful readers would dare to do the same and see “Annette” at least twice.
The “Annette” Official trailer
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