Saint Omer – Movie Review
Director: Alice Diop
Writer: Amrita David, Alice Diop, Marie N’Diaye (Screenplay)
Cast
- Kayije Kagame
- Guslagie Malanda (Mon amie Victoria)
- Valerie Dreville (Armorican Suite)
- Aurelia Petit (Personal Shopper)
- Xavier Maly (A Vert Long Engagement)
Plot: Follows Rama, a novelist who attends the trial of Laurence Coly at the Saint-Omer Criminal Court to use her story to write a modern-day adaptation of the ancient myth of Medea, but things don’t go as expected.
Runtime: 2 Hours 2 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Saint Omer starts as novelist Rama (Kagame) attends the trial of Laurence Coly (Malanda). Laurence is accused of murdering her 15-month baby but claims she has no memory of the event. Rama gets to sit in on the trial, learning the harrowing truth about the incident, believing it could be connected to the ancient myth of Medea.
As the case roles on Rama gets broken up about hearing the truth, showing it to be too disturbing for her to handle. Rama is left to question whether to go forward with her latest novel, or not, leading her down a path she wasn’t expecting.
Verdict on Saint Omer
Saint Omer is a courtroom drama following a novelist that attends a murder trial. She believes it has a connection to a myth she has been studying but isn’t prepared for what the truth holds.
This movie does an excellent job of grabbing your attention through the trial. The scenes are long, but you want to hear every single word behind the case. It is almost like we have been placed in the eyes of Rama sitting in the courtroom with her. While the court case is the most interesting part of the film, the more personal journey from Rama tends to take a step back. It seems to focus on how the case affects her, despite it having a much more realistic outcome in the courtroom.
The performances from Kayije Kagame and Guslagie Malanda are both brilliant. They both demand to be the center of the scene as everything unfolds.
Where to Watch: SAINT OMER RELEASES IN UK CINEMAS ON FRIDAY 03 FEBRUARY.
Final Thoughts – Saint Omer is a powerful drama with brilliant performances.
