User Reviews

In 1927 Al Jolson sang and spoke in a movie instantly making 'silents' become 'talkies' and for many years most movies had a lot of talk with some silence and then the "Star Wars", "Indiana Jones" among others brought the more action than talking in films. "Non-Fiction" is definitely a talking movie with, maybe, 3 minutes of silence, no dialogue! There is a lot of talk mainly about books being published, print versus digital, where blogs are the novels, documentaries, etc., and what Truman Capote in 1966 called a non-fiction novel an author here refers to his work as 'autofiction', works based on his real life with names, places and, possibly, events changed. Leonard (Vincent Macaigne) the author is having an affair with Selena (Juliette Binoche) the wife of his editor, Alain, (Guillaume Canet) who is having an affair with Laure (Christa Theret) who Alain has brought into the company to head the digital department. The only one not having an affair is Leonard's wife, Valerie, (Nora Hamzawi), who is aware and okay with her husband's affair, (hey folks this IS a French film!) as she is very busy helping a Socialist candidate running for office. The film starts with Alain telling Leonard that he won't publish his latest book which leads to many very interesting discussions about today's publishing world and what it may be tomorrow. Even with scenes of the various couples in, and out of, bed there is talk about writing, reading, authors and what the latter use for source material. Here and there other, non-literary, topics are discussed, some for humor others to explain their relationships but it all gets back to what Leonard's new book is about and the 'autofiction' that pleases the woman, Selena, he is having the affair with or his wife, Valerie, who doesn't want to know anything about the affair. "Non-Fiction" though well acted and interesting belongs more on PBS or a Hollywood Reporter round table session as it needs a more intimate setting than a theatre auditorium and a large movie screen and you very seldom hear me suggest that!

If your idea of a fun is watching a bunch of Parisian intellectuals sit around talking about the future of publishing, this is the film for you. Since it's French, there are several extramarital affairs to add spice, but there's no drama or emotion…just extended conversations. Even though it's billed as a comedy, the humor eluded me. The only mildly amusing moment is when they refer to Juliette Binoche as an actor, when she's also playing the lead in this movie. The actors are all convincing, but the film is hindered by the low-key approach and endless subject-matter chatter. In French with subtitles.

Perhaps only the French can make a light, witty, character-driven comedy like this –- on a serious subject (digital communication and its effects on book writing and publishing). Having read that sentence, you probably already know whether you want to keep reading this review –- or think about seeing this movie. If you know at least a little bit about the French and –- better yet -- know some French natives (I learned young by having two of them as professors in college), and find witty films funny (and can read subtitles for hours on end), I think you will thoroughly enjoy this film as I did. The film is hilarious, but I think only a few of us in the theater were laughing.

Witty dialogue, good acting, and set in Paris (always nice). The film was enjoyable from start to finish. I would have like a bit more drama but c'est la vie!