Nemes' 'Moulin' Dazzles Visually, Lags Narrative
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- László Nemes directed “Moulin,” a biographical drama about French Resistance hero Jean Moulin.
- Gilles Lellouche stars as Moulin (under the alias Jean Martel) and carries the film’s emotional weight through his performance.
- Mátyás Erdély provided cinematography, employing 35mm film and a gaslamp wash that creates striking noir visuals.
- Lars Eidinger appears as Klaus Barbie, interrogating Moulin after his Gestapo capture, marking the film’s shift toward subterfuge.
- Moulin's narrative is described as flat and repetitive, focusing on Moulin’s self‑awareness of his fragility rather than depicting broader wartime events.
- Moulin's story omits the larger mystery of who betrayed Moulin, a historical question half‑teased but never explored.
- Critics praise the visual style but note that the aesthetic focus drowns the story, leading to a two‑hour film that repeats points ad nauseam.
Why it matters: Audiences get a visually stunning but narratively thin portrait of Jean Moulin, while critics note the missed chance to examine the betrayal mystery. The film’s visual brilliance may lift the cinematographer’s profile, but its flat storytelling could disappoint viewers expecting a gripping spy drama, shaping its critical reception.
