KDHX Film Review - Russian Dolls

Reviewed by Diane Carson

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In Russian Dolls, French writer/director Cédric Klapisch sports a playful approach to a universal topic: male-female relationships. In his 2002 film, L'Auberge Espagnole, Klapisch introduced seven international roommates, and we drop in on several of them just over five years later, though Russian Dolls does not depend on the audience having seen the first film.

Klapisch anchors his ensemble tale in Xavier. He's a 30-ish, aspiring writer in contemporary France who's compromising his talent to write a soap opera in which he's encouraged to rely on clichés since that's what viewers want. Dashing back and forth between Paris and London on the high-speed Eurostar, Xavier decides to break his writer's block by drawing on his own romantic predicaments, even confessing his stupid mistakes. As he works, the plot hops to St. Petersburg as well for a wedding as other entanglements and social commentary factor in.

With Xavier on screen in most of the scenes, it is crucial that a believable and empathetic actor rise to the demands of this role. And Romain Duris does, with a pliable face that registers a continuum of emotions: from amusement to irritation, from determination to fear. Moreover he has to convince us that several wonderful women will find him appealing despite his flaws. Among the women, Kelly Reilly is equally spectacular as Wendy.

Technically, the style of Russian Dolls enhances the lighthearted approach. Several times the story digresses into flights of fancy. In other amusing moments, the screen comes alive with numerous and sometimes overlapping shots, maximizing digital manipulation. And we're teased to sort out the chronology as we bounce around in Xavier's affairs. Sunlight and bright interiors further enhance the carefree mood while Xavier finds his way to the woman we clearly and immediately see is his best friend and mate. Through the circuitous route, Russian Dolls is quite enjoyable, even as it holds a mirror up to familiar male-female struggles. In French with English subtitles, through June 8th at Landmark's Tivoli Theatre.

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