30 Second Bottom Line: A romantic comedy, set in Paris, involving three women and three men, who are bound together by love and at times something else. Voila!
Story Line: Camille (Jeanne Balibar), a lithe and lovely French actress, has returned to Paris starring in an Italian play with a theater troupe headed by her lover and co-star, Ugo (Sergio Castellitto). She's been away three years, since her break up with Pierre (Jacques Bonaffe), a college professor. Pierre has moved on also, he's now married to the alluring Sonia (Marianne Basler), a ballet teacher.
Camille is having difficulty with her sense of direction-perhaps in more ways than one. She gets lost backstage at the theater and she's turned around when she steps off the elevator at the hotel as well. We get the distinct impression that she's looking over her shoulder, half expecting (hoping?) to see Pierre. Camille is depressed and Ugo is a bit worried about the slow sale of tickets for the performances. These are not qualities conducive to a happy relationship
Camille confronts Pierre in the park one day. She remembers that he likes to go there to read the newspaper. This awkward first meeting of former lovers leads to a dinner invitation at Sonia and Pierre's. Innuendo hangs in the air as barbs fly at this soiree. It's a wonderfully funny scene.
To vent some of his frustration, Ugo delves deeper into his search for a lost play by an 18th century Italian playwright, Goldoni. While poring over manuscripts at the library, he meets a beautiful young student, Do (Helene De Fougerolles). Her mother, Madame Desprez (Catherine Rouvel), has a private library in her home, which may have the papers Ugo is looking for. Do and Ugo begin spending hours together leafing through old books at the apartment.
Arthur, Do's half brother, is a shadowy presence Ugo could do without. Watch closely, as Ugo does, and you'll see why. We discover that Arthur is also having an affair with Sonia, Pierre's wife, a woman with a past of her own she may want concealed.
Here we have our mënage a trois-a few times over. And as the title Va Savoir translates, Who knows?
Tell Me More About It: Va Savoir, the opening night film at the 2001 New York Film Festival, plays with the romantic interludes of its six main characters freely and with surprising results. Jacques Rivette, the film's 73-year-old director, often uses the device of a stage play at the center of his films. Here the play is entitled "As You Desire Me," and it deals with how one remembers a lost love or wishes a new found love to be; which, of course, mirrors what is going on in the film's story.
Sophisticated, grown up fun is what you'll find here; although there are some moments to make the teen-ager in us come out to play. Check out the "duel" at the end. The emphasis is on humor. And stay a while as the credits roll to hear Peggy Lee sing "Senza Fine."
Sergio Castellitto: Several foreign language films as actor & director
Marianne Basler: Foreign language films as actor & director
Jacques Bonnaffe: Venus BeautyInstitute & several foreign films
Helene De Fougerolles: Assassins, The Beach
Bruno Todeschini: Queen Margot several foreign films
Jacques Rivette: Divertimento (1993, 126 min. version of) ….La Belle Noiseuse (1992 Grand Jury Prize Cannes, Best Foreign Language Film, LA Film Critics)
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