The French Dispatch (2021), a film directed by the popular Wes Anderson, was screened as part of the 32nd edition of the Singapore International Film Festival this year. The Cannes opener featuring actor Timothée Chalamet as part of an ensemble cast play as journalists working for the publication The French Dispatch.
Set in the fictionalized French town, Ennui-Sur-Blasé, we watch as the last issue of The French Dispatch is curated. The audience is taken through three different articles in the publication, each written by different journalists who specialize in different news angles. Among these stories are recounts by each journalist telling their story about a gifted artist in prison, the 1968 student protest and the kidnapping of a child, each in their own point of view. This is reflected in the art style of each story where Anderson cleverly assigns unique storytelling techniques to each story where one story is illustrated in the style of a comic and another is shot in black and white.
Anderson is well known for his films’ aesthetics and The French Dispatch showcases his craft. Just like his other films, The French Dispatch was pleasing to the eyes where the backdrop of each scene is just as compelling as the movie’s plot. The set brings back a sense of nostalgia that takes us back to the days of the 20th century before social media. To add a touch of reality, fictional copies of the magazine were printed as part of the movie’s marketing efforts and distributed during the festival. This brought the whole movie to life and made each story in the film more immersive.
The French Dispatch is a great movie for anyone who still loves a good magazine article, anyone with a keen eye for aesthetics and everyone who loves stories. Each of the three stories is wild in its own way with twists and turns unfolded in a beautiful manner that audiences will never see coming. In addition to these three stories, the underlying story of the creation of the final issue is also a story of its own and cheeky in its own way. The French Dispatch is an enjoyable film that fans of indie and popular cinema can enjoy.
Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures