35 Shots of Rum

France 2008, 101 mins
Director: Claire Denis
Starring: Mati Diop, Alex Descas

Synopsis

A father, Lionel (Descas), and daughter, Joséphine (Diop), live lovingly together in a grey apartment building with a view of the train tracks in a Paris suburb.

Two neighbours frequently intrude; one has romantic designs on the father, the other has eyes for the young daughter.

Train driver Lionel has raised Joséphine alone ever since she was a little girl.

He gradually realises that the time to leave each other is perhaps approaching.

Inspired by the stories concerning her Brazilian grandfather that Denis heard as a child, 35 SHOTS OF RUM is a film that she claims to have always wanted to make.

The result, scored by Stuart Staples and shot by Agnès Godard, is her finest since the magnificent BEAU TRAVAIL.