Notre Dame

"Directed by filmmaker Valérie Donzelli (of the great 'A War Is Declared'), 'Notre Dame' is one of those strange, curious, original films that, for all that, may not please everyone who watches it. After all, the story of an architect who unwittingly wins a competition to renovate a square bordering the Notre Dame cathedral is only the starting point of a story that speaks of relationships, motherhood, pregnancy and so many other things. Donzelli, who is also the protagonist of the feature, also opts not to follow the traditional path in telling this story, inserting pinches of fantasy and surrealism into the story--which may either drive away or embrace part of the audience. At least the typical French humor is present in the narrative, with jokes about everyday life and the current wave of violence sweeping the country. All that was missing was to be more incisive and direct in its aesthetic choices, thus avoiding 'Notre Dame' from being a forgettable film the next day."