Mon pote (2010)
Directed by Marc Esposito

Film Review

One-time journalist Marc Esposito began his filmmaking career with Le Coeur des hommes (2003), a pleasing and authentic portrayal of male friendship in modern times.  In Mon pote, he covers similar ground but struggles to get beyond the kind of tedious platitudes and egregious sentiment-milking that would condemn a TV soap opera to a cancellation within five episodes.  Edouard Baer and Benoît Magimel are excellent casting choices for the two lead roles, but neither actor is well-served by a script that is breathtakingly naive and lacking in depth and interest value.  With three full-length films already under his belt, Esposito still shows no obvious flair as a film director and, judging by this latest will-sapping monolith to mediocrity, he should perhaps consider an alternative career.  If you like shallow, soap-style melodramas in which capable actors suffer a comparable indignity to that experienced by the early Christians in first century Rome, and in which your emotional reaction is constantly channelled by wistful and tacky background musical this is obviously the film for you.  For the other 99.99999 per cent of the viewing public, watching paint dry is a far more stimulating and life-affirming experience.

Film Synopsis

Victor, the publisher of a well-known car magazine, is giving a talk about his work in a prison when he strikes up a rapport with one of the inmates, a former crook named Bruno.  It seems that Bruno is a fan of the magazine and would like nothing better than to work for Victor.  Impressed by his admirer's enthusiasm, the publisher agrees to find a place for him once he has completed his stretch in prison.  Victor keeps his promise and Bruno is soon working for him as the model employee.  As they get to know each other better, the two men are struck by how much they have in common.  It is the beginning of a lasting friendship that will mark both of their lives...