Bastards
dir. Claire Denis · 2013
Feature
Moral Ambiguity
Mood
Dark / Melancholic
Look
gritty realism with a muted color palette, emphasizing urban decay and emotional desolation
Structure
non-linear with flashbacks revealing character backstories and motivations
Plot
Supertanker captain Marco is called back urgently to Paris. His sister Sandra is desperate - her husband has committed suicide, the family business has gone under, her daughter, Justine is spiralling downwards. She holds powerful businessman Edouard Laporte responsible. Marco moves into the building where Laporte has installed his wife and her son. But he hasn't planned for Sandra's secrets, which muddy the waters.
Why watch
Marco returns to Paris to confront the chaos left in the wake of his sister Sandra's husband's suicide. As he navigates the murky waters of familial loyalty and betrayal, the film immerses viewers in a world where every relationship is fraught with tension and hidden agendas.
Cultural context
contemporary Parisian socio-economic strugglesthe impact of corporate power on personal livesfamilial loyalty versus personal morality