“Astrakan” is a new coming-of-age French film, starring Mirko Giannini, that was directed by filmmaker David Depesseville.
The synopsis is: When Samuel (Mirko Giannini), a young orphan, is sent to live with foster parents Marie (Jehnny Beth) and Clement (Bastien Bouillon), he is gradually forced to face the demons he is holding on to internally, as well as those that exist within his new family.
Swept up in the motions of coming-of-age for the very first time — falling in love with the girl next door, exploring hobbies and indulging in childhood passions — he also begins to learn of the secrets his foster family are keeping, leading him to question everything around him.
As these questions emerge, Samuel is pushed in and out of crippling anguish, bridging a harsh gap between dense realism and feverish fantasy which leads to a stunning and transcendent final act.
Mirko Giannini delivers a bold and powerhouse breakout performance as Samuel, and he steals every scene he is in. The tension in this film is palpable, and he is not afraid to be frank and vulnerable. His character is able to navigate through some dangerous circumstances and situations that he is known into.
Giannini is truly able to capture the conscience of an orphan in a world where he feels lost, and he does that a precocious and resonant manner. It is evident that Giannini has an old soul. Everyone in the cast is able to bring something new and distinct to this film.
“Astrakan” has quite the memorable ending, which takes an unexpected turn (that nobody will see coming), and it will leave viewers drenched in a wide spectrum of raw emotions.
While it is slightly long (spanning one hour and 45 minutes), it will keep viewers on the edge of their seats the entire time. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and it stays authentic to its message. It has the atmospherics of a quintessential Wes Anderson film.
The Verdict
Overall, “Astrakan” is a solid film by David Depesseville, with a realistic screenplay that is ample in character development.
Mirko Giannini should have a bright and promising future in the entertainment industry, especially after this dynamic performance. His character’s internal conflicts that are presented will certainly spark conversation starters especially after the movie is over.
This foreign language film is rich in symbolism, especially if one pays close attention to some of the motifs that are repeated over the course of the movie. It garners 4.5 out of 5 stars.
