"Kechiche Explores End-of-Summer Melancholy in 'Mektoub, My Love: Canto Two'"
In the world of cinema, sequels often aim to build upon the success of their predecessors, but sometimes they take a different path. Such is the case with the film "Mektoub, My Love: Canto Due," a sequel to the critically acclaimed "Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno."
Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, who won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2013 with "Blue is the Warmest Color," "Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno" told a compelling story set in Sète, southern France, during the summer of 1994. The film focused on Amin, an aspiring screenwriter and director, and his relationships and experiences during that summer, presenting a coming-of-age and romantic storyline with a compact narrative arc.
However, "Mektoub, My Love: Canto Due," also known as "Intermezzo," takes a different approach. While it continues the story of Amin, the sequel largely abandons a conventional plot structure in favor of a more languid, explicit, and extended portrayal of its characters' physical and social interactions. The film is described as "essentially narrative-free," with much of its runtime devoted to long, explicit scenes and less on advancing the story or deepening the characters’ arcs from the first film.
The atmosphere of "Mektoub, My Love: Canto Due" is marked by dark, melancholic tones. The cast, which includes Amin and his friends and family, can be seen eating on the beach and dancing in a club, creating a mood that prioritizes mood, atmosphere, and explicit visual storytelling over plot progression or thematic development.
The film was screened at the Locarno Film Festival in 2017, and its release has led to mixed critical responses regarding its lack of narrative growth. Nevertheless, Kechiche successfully recreates the atmosphere of the events depicted in the original film, making it a unique addition to the "Mektoub, My Love" series, which now consists of two films.
"Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno" was screened at the Venice Film Festival eight years ago, marking the beginning of this captivating story. As we wait to see where the story of Amin and his friends and family goes next, we can appreciate the artistry and depth that Kechiche brings to each frame of his films.
This movies-and-tv sequel, "Mektoub, My Love: Canto Due," presents a marked departure from its predecessor "Canto Uno," venturing into a narrative-free, more explicit, and extended portrayal of characters' interactions. The entertainment landscape showcases this unconventional approach, offering a unique addition to the "Mektoub, My Love" series.
