Culture

Star Rating

★★★★☆ 

Genre: Drama/True Story

Now bare with me here, because normally the punk rock band The Offspring wouldn’t be associated with this type of movie, but taking the title of their their 2008 album, “Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace”, fits seamlessly here with Roschdy Zem’s biopic of Rafael Padilla, aka Monsieur Chocolat and his life which is essentially a rags to riches story, but even with this clichéd (but true) story trope, the movie has an innovate quality which separates it from the rest.

Towards the end of the 19^th century in France, Rafael Padilla (Omar Cy, 'The Intouchables'. 2011 & 'Burnt'. 2016) whom is working in a traveling circus, is asked by Georges Footit (James Thiérrée, 'Korkoro'. Tony Gatlif. 2011) to be a part of a two-man clown act and to go by a stage name as the eponymous title. After gaining attention from outside of the circus, they are both propelled to stardom and to perform exclusively at the Nouveau Cirqué in Paris.

What follows is Rafael and Georges trials and triumphs by balancing fame, newly attained wealth and also identity.

Roschdy Zem is able to expertly make the audience not groan and roll their eyes at a well worn tale but quite the opposite by taking on the themes of identity, race, acceptance and the overall enjoyment of the circus from that era. It is clear and evident that there was an overall passion to make this movie, which is also didactic by teaching the audience of the pioneers of entertainment and the specific medium.

Omar Cy is brilliant in his role, showing depth and reveling in his native country and James Thiérrée is equally as good as the conflicted Georges. Both effortlessly play off each other and at times it does feel that the audience forget they are watching actors and not the real life persons.

Highly Recommended.

Now Showing at Mt. Vic Flicks.

A review by Mathew Currey.