La vie au Ranch

This feature debut was emphatically embraced by the young audience at its premiere screening at the Belfort Film Festival in France and even given the audience award. While the film at first sight possesses several characteristics that are common elements in French cinema – such as endless talking – La vie au Ranch is unmistakably contrary and different. The attraction of the film can be found in its familiar sketch of modern student life in France and, more universally, the director manages to make something clear about a very specific age without saying it.
While she is rarely if ever on-screen alone, the playful, apparently improvised camera focuses on 20-year-old Pam, who with Manon shares an apartment known as the ‘Ranch’. Their living room seems constantly filled with various amounts of other female students and an occasional male. Their primary activity: talking. Talking during the many parties, talking when they go out and talking the next morning about it all. About Lola who has been dumped by her boyfriend, about Manon’s boots, about Pamela’s bladder infection. They talk until they lose their voices. They are very happy with themselves and think they’re brilliant! Yet another less narcissistic reality breaks through occasionally that is typical of the ladies’ student disengagement.

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