re:mote voices

Title: Whatever [Extension du domaine de la lutte]
Cast: Philippe Harel, José Garcia, Catherine Mouchet, Cécile Reigher, Marie-Charlotte Leclaire, Philippe Agael
Director: Philippe Harel

the film "whatever" is based on the first novel by French writer Michel Houellebecq, a novelist who seems to create a stir with each new book. one would hope that given the controversy surrounding his work that his books are better than this film. the film whatever is a wrist slasher, the kind of film where you feel yourself giving up the will to live as it goes. the only reason I kept watching was the desperate assumption that something had to happen. it didn't.

the main character is a gray man, a man with no life outside his dull little job. even the travelling about as a consultant, installing and updating software doesn't provide him any excitement. the travel becomes the gray grind of living out of suitcases in places with nothing going on. while we watch this gray man going about his gray business he narrates the film, with his gray dialogue. as the film goes on he tries to play games with the head of his colleague, deciding to talk him into murdering someone. for a while it looks like this might actually provide some interest to the film, actually make the pain of watching it worthwhile. it doesn't. he doesn't kill anyone, and nothing else happens. the end.

whatever is one of most startlingly dull films I have ever seen in my life. there is a complete lack of humour. there is nothing that redeems this film and makes it worth watching. I have to wonder what the controversy was about the book, or was that something that only came with the follow ups? Michel Houellebecq and his reputation bemuses me, I've read a variety of pieces and opinions on him, as well as a couple of extracts from his work. after which what the fuss is about remains no clearer. I suspect his work will hold a fascination until I actually give in and read something by him so I can see whether there is anything to him.