jeux d'enfants

Jeux d'enfants or Children's games or Love me if you dare, is another frenchy pick for tonight. masih dalam masa2 post-MIFF (melbourne international film festival), the atmosphere is still so "hollywouldn't".

The movie tells you the story of Sophie and Julien, and how they got into the mishaps of life by playing games with their life. Or so thats how i see it.

It begins with a carousel-pictured tin stuck on a concrete. The story revolves around it. you can say, the tin is their lives. Started at a very young age of 8 years old, Julien met Sophie the newbie in town (and school) being bullied. As a nice boy that he was, he cheered her up by giving her the carousel tin. "But you have to lend it to me sometimes" He said. Sophie replied, and this is where the story (really) began, "if you want it back, you have to earn it". It's the truth or dare ploy, but without the "truth" ever being played.

The dares they played always immense along with their age. In between, love grew. As if love isn't already twisted enough, Julien and Sophie "game or no game" act made it more complex.

Julien and Sophie trapped in their own game and in a disturbing way, they're enjoying it. It becomes the challenge in their lives. Tanpanya, kehidupan ini hanyalah suatu perjalanan yang sangat panjang dan membosankan.

The "dare of dares" concludes their winding love story, but not the end of the jeux d'enfants (children's games).

The movie falls into the romantic comedy genre. Surprisingly, the comedy only came few bits at the beginning (i love the "slap the gym teacher" dare! effin funny to see the teacher's face bullied by his students! total cracker!). I dare say, there's no romanticism whatsoever in the movie. Their love story is too psychopathic to follow. It's very unrealistic for a typical happy-ever-after tale.. Pastinya... sangat tidak Amerika.

and the second last scene of the movie is a bit off. the "buried us alive in a concrete cement" is quite disturbing and not quite get the message out. Why's the scene have to exist??

I'm torn between love or loath this movie. I like the first half of it, but story gets complicated when came the realization to the meaning of adulthood. That's when the love story kicked in... and that's when it get confusing.

Even Sophie said: "Love me... Is it just a game for you?"