Nocturama

Nocturama, released in 2016, is a French-language thriller directed by Bertrand Bonello. The film follows a group of young Parisians who carry out a series of coordinated terrorist attacks throughout the city, culminating in a tense standoff in a luxury department store. The ensemble cast includes Finnegan Oldfield, Vincent Rottiers, and Hamza Meziani, among others.

The film opens with a series of disconnected scenes introducing us to the diverse group of characters who will later come together to carry out the attacks. We see a young woman shoplifting makeup from a department store, a disaffected youth stealing a car and joyriding through the streets, a Muslim man struggling to reconcile his religious beliefs with his love for punk music, and more. We learn little about these characters initially beyond their actions, but as the film progresses, we begin to see the motivations and desires that drive them.

The attacks themselves are carried out with precision and efficiency, and the group manages to evade police attention for some time. They each take refuge in an abandoned shopping mall, seen as a symbol of the capitalist society they are rebelling against. Here, they wait out the night, watching news reports of their own actions and wrestling with their own emotions and doubts.

The second half of the film takes place predominantly within the department store where several of the characters have taken shelter. As they wait for morning and plan their next steps, tensions between them begin to rise. Some are horrified by what they have done and seek to justify or mitigate their actions, while others revel in the chaos they have sown. As the police surround the building and negotiations begin, the group is forced to confront the consequences of their actions.

Nocturama is a film that demands its audience think deeply about the nature of terrorism, rebellion, and societal conflicts. While the film's characters may be seen as extremists, they are not presented as one-dimensional villains, but rather as complex individuals with deep-seated beliefs and desires. Some of them are sympathetic, while others are not, but all are portrayed with a degree of nuance that invites viewers to consider the motivations behind their actions.

The film is also notable for its visual style, which is at times dreamlike and impressionistic. Scenes are rendered in vibrant colors and interesting camera angles, creating a sense of disorientation that mirrors the confusion and upheaval experienced by the characters. The use of music, both diegetically and non-diegetically, is also effective in creating mood and atmosphere.

Nocturama is not a film for everyone, as its subject matter is undeniably controversial and its ambiguity may be frustrating for some viewers. However, for those willing to engage with its challenging ideas and themes, it is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant work of cinema.