Racer and the Jailbird (Michaël R. Roskam, 2017): Belgium | France | Netherlands

Reviewed by Michael Geraghty. Viewed at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, 2018.

Passionate love with all its secrets, director Michaël R. Roskam brings the audience in just enough to witness the world collapse as lies, deceit, and pain culminate in the darkest way. Through engaging sound and beautiful cinematography, the film builds a rather prickly air to each scene with an enduring emotional grab. Edgy and unique, the film draws you and leaves you wanting even more. The film centers around the love story of Bibi (played by Adèle Exarchopoulos), a Porsche racing driver and Gigi (Matthias Schoenaerts) an “exporter and importer of cars”-or so he says….

Bibi is a professional Porsche race-car driver supported by her father and her upper class family. At race day, Bibi’s beauty catches the eye of Gigi but her father is not so sure of the “real” business of this new mystery man. As the couple begins to build a seemingly normal life, a family life, Gigi’s career will send their world upside down. As Gigi begins a series of mysterious trips to “Poland”, we feel the tension between them building-Gigi wanting to leave his old life behind and Bibi wanting their lives to be secure. Gigi’s unwillingness to give up his old life will end up changing their lives forever.

This story is one of love, deceit, and the tragedy of a never corrected failure. A man with a past that shaped him into something that cannot be broken and a women bonded to her lover through thick and thin. As the world crumbles around our lovers, we can’t help but feel the pain each has-one for what he has done and one for what could have been.

The film beautifully captures the sound of each scene with gritty textures that further the sense of tension throughout. The rise and fall of this love story is similar to the beauty of a falling star and one that you cannot help but keep your eyes on.

A definite must see that will keep you on the edge of your seat!