#TIFF19 Review: Frankie (Special Presentations)
By John Corrado
★★½ (out of 4)
Françoise Crémont (Isabelle Huppert), affectionately referred to as Frankie, is an aging French actress who invites her family and friends to a sprawling villa in Sintra, Portugal for a vacation together that could end up being their last. There’s her son Paul (Jérémie Renier), current husband Jimmy (Brendan Gleeson) and ex-husband Michel (Pascal Greggory), and her daughter Sylvia (Vinette Robinson) who is their with her husband Ian (Ariyon Bakare) and teenaged daughter Maya (Sennia Nanua). Frankie’s on-set hairstylist Irene (Marisa Tomei) also happens to be vacationing in the same town with her boyfriend Gary (Greg Kinnear), a cinematographer who is looking to direct his first film.
Directed by Ira Sachs, taking a break from the New York settings that have defined many of his films, the story of Frankie unfolds over a single day as these various characters meander around the seaside town, having conversations as they encounter each other and often break off into pairs. There are a few too many storylines and characters to keep track of, and I honestly wasn’t expecting this many Star Wars references, which feel somewhat forced.
This is a more minor work from Sachs, that lacks the emotional impact of his superior works like Love is Strange and Little Men, but it’s still a frothy and often enjoyable comedic melodrama, that is carried by fine performances from Huppert and the rest of the splendid ensemble cast.
Wednesday, September 11th – 6:00 PM at Princess of Wales
Thursday, September 12th – 2:30 PM at Winter Garden Theatre