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6.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. L'or des mers remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you are looking for a heist flick with gold, you are barking up the wrong tree. This isn't Wealth. It is a slow, moody wander through a foggy French coastline. If you have the patience for a guy staring at the horizon for three minutes straight, you will dig it. If you want pacing, stay away.
Rémy Blanchet plays our lead, a guy who seems to have more alcohol in his system than blood. He finds this treasure and honestly? He just looks tired. It is refreshing, in a way. Most movie characters would be jumping for joy or sweating bullets. He just looks like he wants a nap.
There is this one shot of a boat rotting in the sand that I am still thinking about. It looks like a skeleton. The director, Epstein, really leans into the gloom. It is not exactly a fun watch, but it feels real. Like, you can smell the damp wool and stale cider through the screen.
The dialogue is sparse. Sometimes people just grunt at each other. It reminded me a bit of the quiet desperation in The Love Hunger, though this feels way more grounded in the dirt and salt. There is no polish here. The sound of the wind is louder than the actors half the time.
The ending just… stops. It doesn't wrap up. It feels like the film just ran out of money or the cameraman got bored. Honestly, I kind of liked that. It felt honest. Not everything needs a bow on top, unlike those over-produced dramas like The Price of Vanity where everything has to be a big statement.
If you are in a weird, melancholic mood on a rainy Tuesday, give it a shot. Otherwise, maybe skip it. It is not going to change your life, but it might make you want to go for a long walk near the water. 🌊