Where Has Xavier Gianoli’s Utopian Cinema Gone?

Lost Illusions is Xavier Gianoli’s new feature film. It is an adaptation of Honoré de Balzac’s novel of the same name. Both the novel and the film tell the story of a young provincial poet, Lucien Chardon—known as Lucien de Rubempré—who moves to Paris in the hope of launching his career and getting published.

Xavier Gianoli’s adaptation is highly successful. The direction is brilliant and dynamic, and the film has a great sense of rhythm. The direction of the actors is also very precise, and the actors are excellent. Of particular note is Benjamin Voisin (Lucien), who delivers a highly detailed and credible performance in creating his character. Also worth noting are Vincent Lacoste (Etienne Lousteau) and Salomé Dewaels (Coralie), two supporting roles in the film, both of which are brilliantly portrayed.

The film’s subject matter is highly relevant today and offers a mirror-like reflection on our society. Upon arriving in Paris, Lucien finds himself writing reviews for a tabloid and gradually drifts away from his literary dream. He works for a newspaper whose goal is to make and break artists’ reputations, with no regard for the artistic value of their work. Gossip has become more important. The witty remark has become more important. What we truly think, what we feel, is no longer so important, at the risk of losing ourselves, of losing our authenticity.

While this new feature film by Xavier Gianoli is particularly successful, showcasing his great mastery of direction and acting, it is also disillusioned. Personally, I miss the Xavier Gianoli of *À l’origine* or *Marguerite*, who, through these two films, delivered a cinema of utopia. And in this genre, not only does Xavier Gianoli excel, but he is also one of the few French filmmakers today to venture into it. We therefore eagerly await another film by Xavier Gianoli in this utopian vein, for we are in great need of it.