I have been looking for a film like this and now I run into one accidentally. The box made it appear as if “Amer” is some kind of psychological thriller, which would have been enough for a quick-choice. On the contrary, “Amer” is a very strange, experimental and dark film. It brings memories of ‘that other weird French film’ “La Vie Nouvelle“. “Amer” does not seem to have much of a story. We see Ana in three phases in her life; as a child, as an adolescent and as an adult. The the first third Ana lives with her parents in a gigantic house and she is haunted by her dead (?) grandparents, or is Ana the ‘haunter’? This part is very dark and the directors use unconventional camera work, cut-up images, out-of-focus images, colour filters and a minimalistic, threating soundtrack. It does not get really clear what is going on exactly and the viewer is kept pretty much in the dark. Suddenly the tone seems to lighten up and we see Ana in a light summer dress walking near the coast with her mother. Mother has her hair done and Ana wanders off in the tiny village. Inspite of the bright sunlight and Ana’s summer-look, the directors managed to give this part a dark undertone that suddenly ends. The last part Ana has grown up and she returns to the house of her childhood. The house is in an advanced state of decay and as soon as she walk in, Ana feels a presence. This last part gets more of a thriller twist with Saw-like elements.
The directors casted some beautiful actresses for Ana and her mother. They use a lot of extreme close ups; many of eyes, but also of different body parts; a part of an arm or a leg, an ear, the pubic area that is exposed when the skirt is lifted by the wind, a breast, etc. The slow and minimalistic filming with these close-ups give “Amer” a sensual atmosphere. Indeed, “Amer” definately is an interesting watch. When you like “La Vie Nouvelle” you will here find something of about the same breed. If you like David Lynch’s darker films, you want to watch both these French films too. Like I wrote in my review of “La Vie Nouvelle”: “not as good as Lynch, but a nice film to search for of you like this style.” I find “Amer” better than “La Vie Nouvelle” though.
