Item: Arènes joyeuses
Rating: 7
Author: Archivist John

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, it depends on how much you love 1930s French sunshine and people yelling over each other. If you’re into local politics turning into a circus, you’ll probably have a blast. If you need a tight, focused story, you’re going to hate this. It’s a bit of a sprawl.

Mayor Cabissol is exactly the kind of guy who thinks a bullfight is the solution to every problem in town. Watching him try to keep his dignity while everything falls apart is… something.

The vibe

The whole thing feels like it was filmed during a heatwave. You can almost feel the dust kicking up in the streets of Martigues. It’s got that specific, slightly frantic energy you find in movies like Notre Dame d'amour.

Escopette is the guy playing the villain, or maybe the hero? He’s loud. Like, really loud. He’s running around sabotaging the bullfight because he hates the idea, and his daughter’s disappearance adds this weird layer of melodrama that doesn’t always land right.

Some random notes:

The pacing? It’s more of a suggestion than a rule.
There’s a scene where they’re looking for those missing bulls that goes on for way longer than it needs to.
The mayor’s suit looks like it’s about five sizes too big, and it’s distracting.
Some of the extras in the background look like they’re just waiting for the lunch break to start.

It’s not trying to be The Fight for the Water Hole. It’s not trying to teach you anything profound about the human condition. It’s just a movie about a mayor who really, really wants a bullfight and a guy who really, really doesn't.

Sometimes the movie just stops moving forward to let someone deliver a monologue. It’s a bit jarring. But then you get a look at the scenery, and you kind of forget why you were annoyed in the first place. ☀️

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s definitely not perfect. But it has a heartbeat, which is more than I can say for a lot of stuff coming out today. Maybe just watch it for the sheer audacity of how much everyone is shouting.