Films at the cinema this week: should you see or avoid Michael, We the Orchestra and The Doll?

We the orchestra – To have

Documentary by Philippe Béziat – 1h30

We the orchestra is not only a true declaration of love to the orchestra in all its dimensions, but this film invents another way of showing symphonic music. You have to accept being disconcerted by this absence of story or dialogue. Everything involves putting the music being made into images and sound, starting with the steamroller of the Rite of Spring. The director takes us to the heart of a phalanx, and he does so by putting us in the place of the musicians of the Orchester de Paris, who agreed to be filmed in the daily life of their work. A fabulous opportunity to experience the unique sensations that one experiences when one is immersed in the heart of this human as well as musical experience. C. M.

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Our review of We the Orchestra: an exceptional immersion in music

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Mango tree flowers – To have

Drama by Akio Fujimoto – 1 h

They play hide and seek without worrying about what the adults are up to. Somira, 9, and her little brother, Shafi, 4, are still at the carefree age. However, the time has come to leave. Accompanied by a cohort of young Rohingyas, refugees in Bangladesh in a camp to escape persecution in Myanmar, they set off as if they were going for a long walk… Filmed with a hand-held camera, Mango tree flowers immerses the viewer in a migratory “road movie” of almost documentary style. This terrifying effect of realism grips each stage of the journey. We hold our breath. The simplicity of the film is matched only by its emotional force and its relentless visual beauty. O. D.

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Our review of The Flowers of the Mango Tree: a relentless and poignant odyssey on the Rohingya drama, for children

The Doll – We can see

Comedy by Sophie Beaulieu – 1h20

He calls him “cat”, prepares him frozen meals that only he eats and makes conversation for two. Normal, Audrey is a human-sized doll, a conciliatory partner for Rémi, who has not recovered from his last “real” love affair. Rémi (Vincent Macaigne) works at Gazonzon, a synthetic turf company, a start-up version of Nicolas and Bruno’s COGIP (see the recent Alter Ego ), both friendly and morose. When Patricia (Cécile de France, poodle hairstyle and frank smile), a new colleague, arrives in the company, Audrey comes alive and suddenly becomes very alive. She is played by Zoé Marchal, amusing as an unfiltered wife, Barbie landed in the real world. For her first feature film, Sophie Beaulieu starts from an original premise to deal with contemporary subjects (patriarchy, mental load). The outcome is less daring, with a return to the order of things and the ordinary couple. AND. S.

For the best – We can see

Dramatic comedy by Martine-Castille Mention-Schaar – 1 h 47

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With For the bestMartine-Castille Mention-Schaar signs a deliberately generous film, sometimes a little heavy, but carried by a sincerity that disarms. By retracing the destiny of Philippe Croizon, a quadruple amputee who became a hero of the English Channel swim, the story celebrates less the sporting feat than inner strength, endurance and the power of the human bond. The beautiful encounter with Suzanna, an essential companion and decisive presence, gives the film its most tender breath. Handisport swimmer Pierre Rabine embodies Croizon with conviction and accuracy. We can smile at a few melodic accents, but the emotion ends up winning out: a caring, warm film, which reminds us that no dream is out of reach. O. D.

In a low voice – To avoid

Drame de Leyla Bouzid – 1 h 53

Lilia, a Parisian lesbian, returns to her family in Sousse, Tunisia, for the funeral of her gay uncle, the victim of a heart attack and too much shame. Lilia conceals her homosexuality – despite the cumbersome presence of her friend, played by Marion Barbeau – at the same time as she dispels the secrets surrounding the death of her uncle, condemned to live in hiding… Tunisian director Leyla Bouzid does not find the finesse of her previous film, A story of love and desire . Here, everything is academic and predictable. Lilia never seems to truly exist on her own but always to illustrate the filmmaker’s intentions: to lift a taboo (homosexuality) and fight against intolerance (homophobia). On the same theme, The Little Oneby Hafsia Herzi, was much stronger. AND. S.

Michael – Absolutely avoid

Biopic de John Logan – 2 h 08

Michael Jackson is in turn the subject of a biopic like Hollywood loves to produce. We will rather speak here of “hagiopic” to describe a film closer to hagiography than biography. Its release shows that the singer has not been completely canceled, even if the affairs have cast shame on an extraordinary career. In fact, it is impossible to watch this film without thinking about all this, nor wondering how this matter will be handled by the director and the screenwriters working on Michael. Their response is clear: “Move around, there is nothing to see. » Too bad that they also forgot to make a film. We cannot describe this object as continually boring, mercilessly ugly, with idiotic dialogue and so lazy construction. O.N.

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Boring, ugly, with idiotic dialogue… Our review of Michael, the biopic on Michael Jackson with fake news sauce