Notre musique

The cinematic odyssey unfolds in three distinct realms, each a poignant reflection of the timeless masterpiece that inspired it - Dante's Divine Comedy. The initial "Realm 1: Hell" presents a jarring montage of documentary and fictional footage, a visceral depiction of war, destruction, and violence, serving as a stark reminder of the darker aspects of human nature.

The meat of the film, "Realm 2: Purgatory", takes flight in the midst of an international arts conference, where Jean-Luc Godard (Jean-Luc Godard), resplendent in his own persona, awaits departure to Sarajevo. It is here that he crosses paths with Ramos Garcia, a dual-national French-Israeli interpreter, who is eagerly anticipating a reunion with his niece, Olga Brodsky, a Francophone Jew of Russian descent. Meanwhile, Judith Lerner, a Tel Aviv-based journalist, embarks on a quest to secure an on-the-record conversation with the French ambassador regarding Jewish-Palestinian relations - not a mere discussion, but a genuine exchange of perspectives.

As Godard's lecture on the relationship between image and text unfolds, Olga finds herself mesmerized by his words, which touch upon a range of topics, including his opposition to the ubiquitous cinematic device of "shot/reverse shot". Godard posits that this technique, which presents two characters in identical framing, serves only to regressively efface their differences, rendering it a potent tool for propaganda. Later, Olga engages her uncle Ramos in a philosophical exploration of the complex issue of suicide.

The conference concluded, Godard returns home to tend his garden, only to receive a distressing phone call from Ramos Garcia, who recounts the tale of a young woman who stormed into a theater, proclaiming she had a bomb in her bag. In a desperate bid for Israeli-Palestinian peace, she implored one individual to join her in death; as the audience fled, the police arrived and took the young woman's life. Garcia is adamant that this tragic figure was none other than Olga.

The film concludes with "Realm 3: Heaven", a serene postlude featuring Olga wandering contemplatively through an idyllic lakeside setting, seemingly under the watchful eye of American marines.

Throughout the soundtrack, the haunting melodies of Meredith Monk, an American composer, beautifully underscore the narrative, weaving a sonic tapestry that perfectly complements the film's poignant themes.