On Tour

This film is directed by the prolific French actor Mathieu Amalric, who also stars in it and is the screenwriter. It is about a man, Joachim, played by Amalric, returning to France from the USA with a troupe of American burlesque entertainers. He has organised a tour in France, intended to terminate in Paris. Instead, the tour makes its way along coastal places and becomes bogged down by problems originating in Joachim's past, when he has made many enemies. Also his children join him and of course distract him from his professional obligations. It is impossible to watch this film without thinking of Cassavete's Killing of a Chinese Bookie. I also thought of Bob Fosse's All That Jazz. These are two films I love. I saw Amalric do a Q&A after the film and he mentioned these films.

I have no taste for burlesque and although the main focus of the film is on Joachim's struggles as he encounters increasing difficulties in trying to keep the show on the road, the film assumes that the viewer is more interested in the acts than I am. Although the drama dominated, the shots of the acts were held longer than I would have held them. Amalric, in the Q&A, said how fond he was of the women and how much he admired what they do. My problem is I just cringe.

That this film can hold its head high in the company of Killing of a Chinese Bookie and All That Jazz, which for me are masterpieces, is a mark of its quality.