‘The Book of Solutions’ Movie Review [Fantastic Fest 2023]: Michel Gondry’s Bizarre Creative Journey
Photo from Fantastic Fest
From Jeff Nelson
Filmmaker Michel Gondry is familiar with combining quirky elements into personal dramas exploring universal themes, such as love. The eccentricities don’t always work, especially when they overshadow the storytelling set in motion. The Book of Solutions is a more intimate piece for Gondry, but it doesn’t lack an ounce of his zany style.
Marc Becker (Pierre Niney) is a struggling artist with an inflated ego that even his peers find insufferable. He’s working on a new film that production executives fail to understand, causing him to make a quick escape to his aunt’s countryside home with his tight-knit team to complete the project according to his own vision. However, Marc’s creative decisions lead him down a seemingly never-ending rabbit hole.
The Book of Solutions is inspired by Gondry’s own experience while crafting 2013’s Mood Indigo. Marc turns to his own advice within his “Book of Solutions” to solve his problems, but similar to his film, no one else can make much sense of it. He’s determined to reinvent the wheel of cinema, searching to break every rule to craft something meaningful. However, Marc’s anxiety stops him from watching any of the progress on his art, only allowing himself to see the final cut when it premieres with a live audience.
Marc isn’t a likable perspective character, especially as his selfish tendencies grow more intense over the course of post-production. Even so, it’s difficult not to admire his tenacity and unwillingness to submit to those who don’t believe in him, even though he goes about it all wrong. Nevertheless, his outrageous antics result in some solid situational comedy, although some of it relies on the audience already having an understanding of the filmmaking process.
The further Marc dives into his film, the more out of control he becomes. His aunt and his colleagues continually attempt to snap him out of these episodes, generating intriguing dynamics between the characters, each of which struggle with his booming tantrums. Gondry could dig a little deeper on these relationships, especially since they shape Marc’s journey.
Family, love, and friendships are also briefly explored, although they aren’t the focus. Marc’s romantic feelings toward women come second to his film, as he even refers back to his own manual to navigate these personal relationships. As a result, your ability to enjoy this one will depend on your willingness to accept this character for all of his detrimental faults that are only further justified by his own moral code.
Gondry packs The Book of Solutions with whimsical direction, while still allowing Niney’s oddball performance as Marc to shine through. There’s a passion that rests behind his eyes in every shot. The entire supporting cast successfully play off of Niney’s frantic energy, frequently anchoring many scenes around his character’s strong desire to prove all of the doubters wrong.
The Book of Solutions is a frenzied exploration of artistic expression packed in a self-aware package. It will occasionally test your patience in regards to the protagonist’s temperament, but Gondry grounds the narrative in his supporting cast of characters to reel it back in when it starts getting away from him.
Rating: 3/5
The Book of Solutions played Fantastic Fest 2023 on September 24th, 2023.
