Normally most French movies are full of intrigue, superbly relevant dialogue, where tales unfold amidst compelling tension, against beautiful backdrops. More often than not central characters win over the audience and we care about them in no time at all. The main part of this story is certainly set against picturesque scenery; a Croatian river and fjord. Unfortunately the usual impeccable standard of French cinematography ends right there.

Two French speaking fifty-something half-brothers meet and decide to go on a long boat trip and trek deep into the Croatian countryside. Their mutual quest - to learn about each other, and more pertinently, what happened to their father - to see where and why he had mysteriously died in a remote mountainous region.

Much of the film concentrates on revealing what the personalities of the two non-verbose men are like as they initially travel alone in the boat along a winding river. Joe (Sergi Lopez), the more genial of the pair, is an author; a man who had spent time in the great outdoors of Alaska. He is patient, tough in a non-threatening way, but quiet. The other half-brother who had been raised without his father, Homer (Olivier Gourmet) seems similar ....at first. As they spend time bonding, drinking, manning the boat, and caring for a puppy they have with them, we see them gradually share experiences of fishing, cooking, sleeping and hiking. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary. In fact, though the film ambles slowly along in a beautiful setting it is practically devoid of tension or intrigue. We are led to believe that their father may have committed suicide. Could that be true? The brothers are unsure but sceptical. Homer's disposition starts to emerge. He has a short fuse. If anything happened, he would surely be the one to resort to violence. But what would cause him to explode? Devoid of any tension director / producer Marion Hansel presumably realised that as half the film was over she needed to inject a change of pace. At that point, by chance Joe and Homer stumble across an Irish conservationist ranger, Sean (John Lynch) and strike up a conversation. Sean reluctantly accepts a fee to take them to a hard-to-find Monastery where their father had died. Homer becomes suspicious of Sean and thankfully some conflict erupts. All too late, all too brief. If your curiosity is peaked to learn what fleetingly happens then you should watch.

There is a minor twist, but in all honesty, it does not save this film from being drab, uninteresting and at times dreadfully slow. Other cameo characters are largely irrelevant to the story. Perhaps, had there been a more generous dialogue it may have saved the film. It's always preferable to glowingly review films, especially French films. However, the truth is, the two brothers are entirely forgettable, as is this film.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)

The adventure genre features exciting journeys, quests, or expeditions undertaken by characters who often face challenges, obstacles, and risks in pursuit of a goal. Adventures can take place in a wide range of settings, from exotic and fantastical locations to historical or even everyday environments.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

Two half-brothers get to know each other while sailing up a river in an inhospitable region in search of the place where their father was found dead.

Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF)

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