Review of See How They Fall

Disturbing story of the, I would say descent (though others might differ) of a middle-aged zhlub into an S-and-M-inflected homoerotic demimonde. Actors: Yanne is suitably opaque as his character Simon spirals further and further out of his accustomed orbit; the viewer is compelled to judge his interior changes by his actions -- which, after all, is what movies are all about, eh? Trintignant, perhaps the most intelligent actor of his generation, builds a complex and convincing character, and Kassovitz, perhaps the most intelligent actor of HIS generation, matches his thoroughness and his subtlety as Johnny, who really motivates the whole film -- it must have been a challenging and rewarding piece of work for all of them.

So, totally believable. That said....Simon moves from, eh, the normal pleasures and frustrations of a banal middle age, into a kind of depravity, not a pretty picture imho. Audiard is assiduously non-judgmental, and Simon seems satisfied at the end, so, disturbing....