Note to Director

The best thing about this film was Mati Diop. She provided the poignancy for the story, and was the best actor. Like the navy shirt she bought for Simon, she gave the film "class", which the film wouldn't have had otherwise. Brady Corbet is a good actor and it is appropriate for the character not to be truly handsome. The bleakness of the film was a good artistic aspect about the film, because winter in Paris has become such a bleak place (in my personal opinion). All in all it felt like a film school type of film when if flourished into a more mature realm. Many of the photographic frame and blocking choices were admirable, and it is a great cue to have learned this from Godfather 2. The only true problem is how unaccountable the actions of the character of Simon was. He seemed as if he would've experienced many traumatic events in his upbringing that perhaps had to do with his parents divorce, but he is very ill, and I believe the filmmaker should clearly differentiate creating a twisted character more for dramatic effect reasons rather than sculpting a good character. What is even more disturbing is how the film seems to insinuate a whole prototype of American young males who perhaps because of the effects suburban upbringing which utterly perversed their psychological and moral development (hope you know what I mean). I have read an interview with you, the director where you stated Clockwork Orange as your favorite film, and not to pass judgment on taste but if that really is your favorite film then no wonder you don't care to inject more humanity into your films, because clinical distance can only get you so far. Another favorite film of yours (a good choice) Code Unknown while stylistically is cold and distant but the heart of the film is the exact opposite. I think what would've made the film better was to see Simon get punished for his actions somehow, otherwise the tone of the film is too unnecessarily sinister. I know you probably like that sort of thing, but believe me it's been done too many times and it gets tiresome. Hope to see more of your films and I hope you find this note well meaning.