Fidelio: Alice’s Journey – Film Review by Emily Elphinstone

Director: Lucie Borleteau
Writers: Mathilde Boisseleau (collaboration), Lucie Borleteau (screenplay)
Stars: Ariane Labed, Melvil Poupaud, Anders Danielsen Lie

In Lucie Borleteau’s debut feature as writer/director, traditional gender roles are refreshingly left behind, as we follow 30 year old marine mechanic Alice onto immense cargo ship Fidelio for a month long voyage.

Leaving behind her Norwegian boyfriend, Alice (Ariane Labed) joins the established all-male crew, following the accidental death of her predecessor; but once on board, she discovers that amongst the testosterone is former lover Gael (Melvil Poupaud); now captain of the ship. Labed is excellent in the lead role, a wonderfully well rounded character in control of her work and her sexuality; who is not afraid to stand up for herself as the only woman on board.

With a sexually confidant central character, the film is explicit without ever being gratuitous. Alice has the same desires and sense of fun as her male counterparts, and is welcomed as part of the team though she may never fully be one of the lads. The enclosed, industrial world of giant machinery is portrayed so fully, surrounded by vast widescreen shots of the vast ocean, that it easy to believe that the whole film could have been shot at sea. This is supported by a sound design in which silence is just as significant as noise. With the ever-present rumbling of engines and churning of waves, the characters’ physicality and body language are just as important as what they say.

The balance between professional duties and humour-filled down time, creates a sense of the crew’s whole world. This is emphasised by Alice’s discovery of a diary left behind by the deceased former engineer; whose desires, and feelings of isolation, echo those of Alice and the crew.

With interesting and well-rounded characters, and stunning cinematography, the audience are really brought into the world of the story; and Fidelio: Alice’s Journey is a far more universal tale than first appearances may suggest. This is a stunning directorial debut for Borleteau, and hopefully there will be plenty more to see from her in future.