Around a Small Mountain

Around a Small Mountain is a dry and contemplative film by the 82 year-old Jacques Rivette, who was one of the prominent figures of the French New Wave movement over forty years ago. With Around a Small Mountain things happen quite slowly and rise out of small ideas or musings. It begins when Kate (Jane Birkin) has her car break down. A man comes up to help her and then leaves without speaking a word. Later, they meet in the city and Kate reveals to the man, whose name is Vittorio (Sergio Castellitto), that she is a circus performer. He is intrigued, and because he has nothing else to do, he goes to the circus. This is not the extravagant type of circus with elephants and tigers that inhabits the minds of most people whenever they think of circuses, but one that is referred to as "classic" and is truthfully failing. When Vittorio laughs loudly at an act by the clowns, they approach him afterwards to ask why. (They must have not seen such happiness towards their work in a long time). Vittorio becomes integral with the circus, and he almost becomes a sort of outside force that threatens to change them. This is perhaps for the better, and as the motives of Kate become clear: why she is in the circus, her past, etc. a sort of tenderness grows between the once silent Vittorio and Kate. This is all done beautifully, and the dialogue feels real. It reminded me of Steven Soderbergh's film Bubble in its insistence to show realism. At times this realism grows dull, and the dry nature of some of the characters evokes shrugs. But the strength of Vittorio's entrance into the world of the circus and the smart direction by Rivette creates a worthwhile film.
Around a Small Mountain: ★★★