PoticheNaïve ****
One of France's exciting generation of post-minimalist neo-romantic composers, Philippe Rombi continues his successful collaboration with director François Ozon (
8 Women, Swimming Pool, Ricky) with his superb new score to the award-winning
Potiche, a sly comedy about gender politics set in the 1970s, with occasional singing. Combining long melodic lines, bright instrumental colours (xylophone, accordion, Spanish guitar) and lush orchestration – and nods to Bernard Herrmann and Vladimir Cosma – he infuses his knowing 1970s pastiche with rare intelligence and feeling, creating an utterly original score that delights with its playfulness and moves with its unabashed lyricism.
Potiche, which features songs from the period (Catherine Deneuve sings a superb version of
C'est beau la vie), is an enjoyable score and an extraordinary celebration of an overlooked period of film music. See naive.fr
Download tracks: Les souvenirs de Suzanne, Thème de Suzanne