35 Shots of Rum: hung. over.

Cast: Alex Descas, Mati Diop, Nicole Dogue, Grégoire Colin
Director: Claire Denis
Screenwriters: Claire Denis, Jean-Pol Fargeau

Intelligence and warmth radiate through every scene in Claire Denis’ Paris-set family drama.

Widower Lionel (Descas) is a train driver approaching retirement. He lives with his devoted daughter Josephine (Diop) while she studies at university. Their loving bond is real, but he knows she’ll soon have to break free and become independent. That’s pretty much the entire plot of 35 Shots of Rum, and yet this sparse set-up is rich with genuine feeling and subtle, moving exchanges.

Change and its impact on people’s lives is a running theme here: there’s the central, shifting relationship between father and daughter; a neighbour (Colin) with his romantic eye on Josephine whose interest she spurns; Lionel’s female neighbour who has a long-standing thing for him and who can’t bear the prospect of not being in his life any more; and a fellow train driver who’s depressed after being forced to take early retirement.

None of these stories are sledgehammered home. Instead, Denis focuses on the small things that define parental and romantic relationships, whether it’s a small glance here or a significant pause in conversation there. She gives the film room to breathe and lets the impeccable cast do their stuff naturally. The pace is always languid but what unfolds on screen is never dull – and that’s a difficult trick to pull off.

An autumnal Paris is beautifully shot by Agnès Godard, even if picking the most changeable of seasons to set the film is the only unsubtle thing about it.

The modest extras (or should that be extra?) consist of a 21-minute interview with Claire Denis. Shame about the lack of a commentary from either the director or any of the cast though.

The impatient might want to down a few shots of their own before watching 35 Shots of Rum, but connoisseurs of old-fashioned French cinema will find plenty to enjoy.

35 Shots of Rum out now on DVD via New Wave Films

By Jonathan Todd