In the House (Dans La Maison)
2.5 stars out of 4
By Brett Takeshita
Looking for a foreign art house film that rivals Inception as the biggest mind-bender in recent memory? Then, In the House is for you. It's an intriguing comedic thriller that will keep you guessing from beginning to end. Is it perfect? Definitely not. But is it fascinating and well made? You bet.
In the House tells the story of Germain (Fabrice Luchini), a high school literature teacher who is fed up with the lack of effort from his students. He reads essays to his artist wife, Jeanne (Kristin Scott Thomas), and the couple scoffs at the ridiculous things that the students write. However, there is one student who is an exception. That is the talented and precocious Claude (Ernst Umhauer). Germain strikes up an interesting relationship with Claude. He is in awe of Claude's gifts as a writer, and he gives Claude pointers on how to become the best writer possible. Claude then gives Germain multiple essays regarding his life in the new home that he insinuated himself into. In the home is a seemingly normal family: Claude's awkward classmate and his business-oriented father and gorgeous mother. Germain is fascinated by these stories surrounding Claude and the family until they take turns for the weird. Something seems off, and the lines between fact and fiction are blurred. What results? Chaos.
Director-writer Francois Ozon has made a film that is unlike many others. It's a weird yet beautiful film that somehow manages to get under your skin. While In the House is not scary, there is something a little bit eerie about it. There is a relentless aura of mystery that pervades the picture, thus adding to the complexity of the film as a whole. And strangely, the film is sorta sexy as well. There are some steamy, erotic moments -- without being visually explicit -- that are well done. Everything is hard to describe. However, what is most surprising is that the film has a good sense of humor, mostly thanks to the crazy Jeanne. There are many witty -- and sometimes dirty -- jokes and one-liners that will have you in stitches. In the House is a mish-mash of genres. It's not quite a thriller, not quite a mystery, and not quite a comedy. It's a drama with elements of everything in it. The fact that Ozon is able to balance all of these genres in a successful fashion is commendable. In the hands of the wrong director, In the House could have been a jarring film lacking a sense of order. However, Ozon is a talented director who has mastery over his complex film.
The cast here is outstanding. Fabrice Luchini is an incredible talent, capable of being funny and intense all at once. He brings some gravitas to the film and is a remarkable presence. Luchini makes it so that Germain is a likable and understandable character. Kristin Scott Thomas is a joy to watch. She has great comedic timing, and she is also entirely believable. She digs deep down and brings so much life to Jeanne. Last but not least, the young Ernst Umhauer nails it and delivers a knockout performance. He is charming and sympathetic, but also slightly creepy and sinister throughout. Claude is the most complex character in the film, and Umhauer is absolutely sensational in portraying him.
It's a shame that In the House unravels and becomes a little too chaotic by the end, because the first two-thirds of the film truly deliver. The set-up is instantaneously intriguing, and it hooks you from the start. The mystery continues to build so that you will never know where it's going. Then, it leads to a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion. I found that many of my questions were not answered, and some of the events at the end come out of nowhere. At times, the blurring of fact and fiction was a little frustrating. I wish that there were more definitive answers or a few more clues as to what is real and what is not. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate ambiguity, and I like it when films expect intelligent audiences to do a little thinking of their own. I don't like it when things are clearly spelled out. However, In the House is a little too vague. Perhaps some more clarity would have made for a more effective film.
Overall, In the House is an original art film that stuns with its beauty and ambition. Go in with an open mind, and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Avoid the trailer, which gives away way too many plot twists and sorta detracts from the film. Just go in knowing that this is a film that expects you to think and expects you to reflect. It's funny and thrilling and mysterious, all at once. It's a film that is meant to be appreciated like fine literature. Two and a half stars out of four.
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