Venice 2022: Beating Sun
venice 2022Why does anyone do what they do? In modern society, individuals dedicate entire lives to crafts and societal roles with the search for validation and meaning always present. This certainly is the case for the character of Max (Swann Arlaud), who works as an architect in Philippe Petit's newest feature, Beating Sun. Screening as part of the 2022 Venice International Film Festival, Beating Sun follows Max as he begins work on a new community square that reignites his passion and career, both of which were beginning to fall.
Beating Sun is a film that defines itself in the mundaneness of life and work. Rather than having some grand plot with twists and turns, this is a slower and more casual look at a character who is facing an important step in his career. Max is at a point where his work is beginning to feel somewhat less important and magical. His endless projects bring him in contact with plenty of people, but the inspiration and fulfillment of the job are starting to weaken. To put it simply, Max is someone who needs to find his moxie again. This project gives him the opportunity to do this. Making a real change for individuals, Max grows more and more excited about this square as it is something he has dreamed of doing for quite a while. This narrative is one shared by many. Staleness and complacency are human emotions that traditionally have a habit of creeping up on an individual. It takes something specifically for that spark to light once again.
While the emotions of the film feel worthwhile on paper, the execution of the film is sadly lacking. To be blunt, the film is boring. The specific plot of Beating Sun might be one that means a tremendous amount to the character of Max, but the audience is given very little to invest in. The character of Max is rather generic, with little edge or depth that would surprise or engage audiences on a deeper level. It is hard for the film to articulate why the audience should care about this character causing a disconnect. The slow, slice-of-life pace doesn't do this issue any favors. For 85-minutes, the film sludges through its plot without much venom or defiance of expectations. When it finally reaches an emotional catharsis in the closing act, the impact is clearly far less than the film actually hoped for. The film seemingly hoped that its take on community and the obsession of an artist would be enough to compel audiences to overlook these faults, but the thesis never develops enough to actually have this impact.
This isn't to say the film is badly made, as quite the opposite is true. Despite his limited character, Swann Arlaud is quite strong and any personality or investment found within Max is a direct result of his efforts. The cinematography from Pierre-Hubert Martin is also a standout with some scenes being visually gorgeous. Even in the technical elements, there is a lack of personality. Every part of the film is technically well made, but where is the character or identity of the project? The editing also feels weirdly disjointed as the focus of scenes will rapidly switch leaving a lack of conclusion or purpose to most conversations.
While Beating Sun has an authentic and meaningful heart, the final package is lacking. Without a strong enough follow-through or character to invest the audience and get them to buy into the film's drama, the feature ends up feeling twice as long as it actually is. There is something here in thesis, but the delivery needed to be stronger to actually end up being truly worthwhile.
