Conference bookie::movies

178.0. "Olivier Olivier" by 7094::VALENZA (My note runneth over.) Mon May 10 1993 10:06

    This riveting French film stands as a fascinating and troubling tale
    about identity and obsession.

    As the story begins, we are shown a family living a less than "normal"
    life in the country.  The mother dotes excessively on her son, Olivier,
    often to the resentment of his sister, Nadine, and to the annoyance of
    her husband.  There is one rather interesting scene, which I won't
    describe here, which shows just how much she dotes on her son. 
    Although Nadine is jealous of her brother, and is even cruel to him,
    she is also very close to him.  One day, while riding his bike on an
    errand, he disappears.  The mother never gets over this. 

    Six years later, the policeman who had worked on Olivier's case finds a
    teenaged male prostitute in Paris who resembles Olivier.  But is he
    Olivier?  He seems to be, and most of the family (except for Nadine)
    wants to believe that he is.  The family tries to piece itself together
    after his arrival.  The rest of the movie revolves around the boy's
    relationship with the family, his conflict with Nadine, and the
    resolution of the mystery of Olivier's disappearance and whether this
    boy is indeed Olivier.

    Although some of the details of the mystery seemed a little
    questionable, and one aspect of Nadine's character was either
    irrelevant or inadequately expanded upon, overall I found this film
    very interesting, and the ending haunting.

    3.5 stars out of 4.

    -- Mike

    What is it about identity and the French?  This sounds like
    "Return of Martin Guerre" all over again.
    
    Of course, given "Sommersby" and "Dave", it may just be the 
    world-wide movie obsession of '93.
    
    		-John Bishop (or just an imitation?)

    Some silly moments, but good overall - starts off looking 
    like a pretty French art movie and rapidly turns peculiar...
    
    Atmosphere a bit like "The Vanishing".