The Balconettes Review: A Chaotic Tale of Feminism, Body Horror and Dark Comedy

In the world of cinema, it’s always exciting when an accomplished actor makes their directorial debut. However, it doesn’t always hit the mark. Noémie Merlant, known for her stellar performances in films like Portrait of a Lady on Fire, steps behind the camera for her sophomore feature, The Balconettes. Melding genres like ghost stories, body horror, and feminist comedy, the film tries to explore heavy topics such as misogyny, revenge, and body positivity. But does it manage to do so successfully, or does it get tangled in its own chaotic narrative? Let’s dive in.

The Plot: When Neighbours and Heat Create Chaos

The story is set against the blistering heat of Marseille, where three neighbours Ruby, Nicole, and Elise find themselves embroiled in a wild and deadly summer. Ruby (Souheila Yacoub) is a camgirl who earns her living through online performances, while Nicole (Sanda Codreanu) is an aspiring novelist who spends her days peeping at a shirtless photographer in the apartment across the courtyard. Elise, played by Merlant herself, is an actress fresh off a film shoot, still donning her Marilyn Monroe costume in a bizarre quirk that suggests she forgot to take off the wig.

The film opens with a dramatic weather report: it’s 46 degrees Celsius in Marseille, turning the city into a sweltering furnace. The three women escape the oppressive heat by hanging out on each other’s balconies. Their obsession with the handsome photographer (Lucas Bravo) leads to an invitation to his apartment, and that’s when things go downhill fast.

From murder to ghostly apparitions, the film packs a lot into its runtime. There’s a severed penis that keeps making an appearance (yes, really), women banding together to fight misogyny, and a subplot involving revenge that feels like it belongs in a different movie altogether. The narrative moves frantically, never really settling into one tone.

A Struggle With Identity: What Is This Movie, Really?

The Balconettes juggles several genres comedy, thriller, horror and that’s part of its problem. It never quite nails any of them, leaving the audience confused about how they should feel. There’s potential for a feminist revenge thriller here, but the comedic elements often undercut any real emotional weight. For instance, the ghostly corpses that keep returning aren’t funny enough to land as dark humour, and the more serious moments about misogyny and body positivity are overshadowed by the film’s frantic pace and oddball choices.

The titular “balconettes” Ruby, Nicole, and Elise are supposed to be our heroines, but their character development feels shallow. Ruby’s camgirl profession is portrayed without much depth, and Nicole’s obsession with the photographer feels more like a plot device than a fully realized character arc. Elise, who could have been the emotional anchor of the film, spends most of her time floating in and out of scenes without much purpose.

While the film aims to touch on serious themes like male violence and female empowerment, it often feels like these topics are shoehorned into a plot that doesn’t know what to do with them. The lack of character warmth makes it hard to root for the women, and the men in the film are portrayed as so cartoonishly evil that any nuance is lost.

A Mediterranean Palette Without the Heat

One of the film’s biggest missed opportunities is its setting. Marseille, with its hot, sultry summers, could have been a character in itself, but the film fails to bring this oppressive atmosphere to life. Despite constant mentions of the unbearable heat, there’s no sense of the sweat, the discomfort, or the sticky, sweltering nights that should have permeated the narrative. This disconnect makes it hard to believe the tension or urgency the characters are supposed to be feeling. How can you have a story set in such extreme temperatures and not show the characters sweating, exhausted, or wilting under the sun?

It’s as if the heat is a metaphor that never fully materializes, leaving the audience feeling a bit cold in what should have been a searing hot drama.

Feminist Revenge or Misfire?

The central theme of The Balconettes is female empowerment, but the message is muddled by the film’s inability to decide what kind of story it wants to tell. The revenge killings and body horror elements are meant to shock and provoke, but they often feel forced. Take, for instance, the recurring gag of a severed penis that refuses to disappear it’s more bizarre than meaningful and doesn’t serve the plot in any significant way.

There’s an interesting commentary about voyeurism threaded throughout the movie, particularly with Ruby’s profession and Nicole’s spying on the photographer, but it doesn’t dig deep enough to be impactful. The film teases at the darker aspects of human nature but quickly pulls back in favour of comedic chaos.

Performances That Fall Short

One of the most surprising aspects of The Balconettes is the unevenness of the performances, especially considering Merlant’s own talent as an actor. As Elise, Merlant is charming but never fully believable in the role of the scatterbrained actress who can’t let go of her Marilyn Monroe persona. Ruby, portrayed by Yacoub, has some strong moments, but her character never quite becomes more than the “sexy neighbour” stereotype. Nicole, the shy novelist, could have been the emotional heart of the film, but her character arc feels underdeveloped, leaving her as little more than a plot device.

Lucas Bravo, as the hot photographer, plays his role with the appropriate amount of sleaze, but there’s little depth to his character, making him more of a caricature than a real antagonist.

The Verdict: A Missed Opportunity Wrapped in Quirky Chaos

The Balconettes has all the ingredients for a wild, feminist revenge flick, but it never quite comes together. Its jumble of genres, chaotic pacing, and underdeveloped characters leave it feeling more like a collection of ideas than a cohesive story. While it has moments of humour and quirkiness, the film ultimately fails to land its punches when it comes to its more serious themes.

That said, if you’re looking for a wild ride with plenty of bizarre twists, ghostly corpses, and the occasional severed appendage, The Balconettes might just be your cup of tea. Just don’t expect a deep or thoughtful exploration of the themes it teases.

FAQ

1. What is The Balconettes about? The film follows three neighbours, Ruby, Nicole, and Elise, who get wrapped up in a chaotic series of events after becoming obsessed with a handsome photographer across the street. The movie blends genres like comedy, horror, and feminist revenge to create a unique but chaotic narrative.

2. Who directed The Balconettes? The movie is directed by Noémie Merlant, who is also one of the lead actresses. This is her second feature as a director.

3. What are the main themes of the film? The Balconettes touches on themes of misogyny, voyeurism, female empowerment, and revenge, but the message can feel muddled due to the chaotic nature of the plot.

4. Is The Balconettes a comedy? It is meant to be a dark comedy with elements of horror and thriller, but the film struggles to balance these genres, making the comedic elements inconsistent.

5. Is the movie worth watching? If you enjoy quirky, unpredictable films that don’t take themselves too seriously, The Balconettes might be entertaining. However, if you’re looking for a deep, meaningful exploration of the themes it presents, you may be disappointed.