"Holy Motors," 2012 French film by Leos Carax, follows Oscar attending his nine appointments assigned for the day. During these appointments, Oscar dresses up as different people and interacts with others in his roles, which include an aggressive man with an appetite for flowers and fingers, a motion capture stunt actor, a murderer, and a dying uncle. There are no cameras following Oscar, and he does it “for the beauty of the act.” It’s an extremely original concept, and it’s executed masterfully. The film doesn’t rely much on dialogue, although the minimal conversations are thought provoking and profound. Instead, the film thrives on beautiful cinematography and meticulously scripted action.
"Holy Motors" is highly unconventional, but it’s surprisingly accessible. It was highly praised upon its release in 2012, receiving 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.1/10 on IMDB. An auteur filmmaker, Leos Carax both directed and wrote the screenplay for "Holy Motors," and the film vividly expresses his own ideas and creative vision. The tone is dark without being overly depressing, and Carax accentuates cinematography in a way that most films fail to explore. Unlike many Hollywood films that try to hide the camera, "Holy Motors" thrusts the act of filmmaking in the viewer’s vision. Carax won’t let us forget that "Holy Motors" is a carefully crafted creation, and it makes for some interesting camera shots and meta-film commentary.
Truth be told, this film isn’t for everyone. People who like a coherent plot and a clean-cut resolution that wraps everything up will be very disappointed. "Holy Motors" offers no explanations, and it doesn’t answer any of its questions. If anything, it leaves you with more. It’s one of those movies where you're still confused after the credits roll, and you have no idea what to make of it. Everything doesn’t make sense, but understanding every detail isn’t the point of the film. Rather, it’s a collection of profound action scenes and glimpses into multiple human interactions. Oscar's appointments play like an adventure, and the film presents its unorthodox plot and concepts in a way that's neither frustratingly experimental nor overly pretentious.
Only Leos Carax could have made "Holy Motors." Unlike films like "The Notebook" or "Superman," which can easily be replicated (and have been many times), "Holy Motors" is one of a kind. It delves into the realm of imagination and inner psyche, and Leos Carax spotlights his craft and creativity. It’s a truly unique film, and you’ll either love it or hate it, but either way, you’ll definitely remember it.
