Slow 'Le Refuge' rescued by strong performances

Director: Francois Ozon

Cast: Isabelle Carre, Louis-Ronan Choisy, Pierre-Louis Calixte

Cert: 16

An often desperately slow French drama hampered by its pace and unsympathetic central character, the junky and pregnant Mousse (a riveting performance nevertheless from Carre) whose ill-temper makes her hard to like.

Seeking refuge after the murder of her boyfriend, Mousse hides away in the beachside house of a friend and is eventually joined by the boyfriend’s gay brother, Paul (Choisy) where they both face the problems of loss, grief and the need for human companionship while searching for a new start.

The playing of Carre and Choisy lifts the film above average but a more determined forward motion in the plotline would have made it even better.

Star Rating: 3/5