Denis Côté’s new film Boris sans Béatrice.
In Boris sans Béatrice, Denis Côté's new film, a successful and selfish businessman battles with his conscience as his wife suffers from catatonic melancholia. Using Greek myth, Côté crafts a parable about power through the lens of tragicomedy. Not all the jokes land, and the overt familiarity of the poor-little-rich-man narrative grates, but the film powers forward with brisk pacing and by way of mysterious forces. The environment plays a pivotal factor, foreshadowing the awful consequences of pride and selfishness. Dubiously, the film hints at humanity's inability to err on the side of good without spiritual intervention, but ultimately places responsibility in our hands. Beautiful to look at, the film showcases Côté's talents at building tone and theme through images and sounds. Not as relatable as his previous films, Boris sans Béatrice challenges rather than caters to audience preconceptions – for better and for worse.