24 Measures

In his ominous drama, French director andactor Jalil Lespert connects four strangers in aChristmas Eve twist of fate, letting them shareeach other’s loneliness.The first two characters presented are markedby loss: Helly works as a prostitute and has lostcustody of her son; religious taxi driver Didierhas lost his faith in God. Didier pays Helly toplay his fiancée for the night, but the act endsviolently, leaving Helly on her own. Marie – on herway to visit her domineering mother – appearsby chance. Helly takes Marie along on a driveto the coast. Meanwhile, jazz drummer Chris issettling the score with the man responsible forthe death of his father. Ending up in a nightclub,the three of them spend the night together.To the sound of laid-back, mellow jazzharmonies, director of photography Josée Deshaies fills the screen with darkness, usingjust enough light to attain a gritty cameralook, stalking the characters at close rangethroughout the film. Gloomy and dramatic, “24Measures” illustrates the vulnerability of thehuman soul.

Face2Face:
Sunday 25 November
GRAND 09.30
WITH: Bérangère Allaux (actor)