A uninteresting play is in progress. Three actors are performing a home drama earlier than a sparse crowd. A member of the viewers stands up and brings the proceedings to a halt. I work as an evening watchman and have travelled far and paid good cash for the present however I don’t discover it entertaining, the person declares.
The actors react with indifference, contempt and eventually anger. The opposite attendees watch on, bemused – is that this intervention part of the efficiency? Thus begins Quentin Dupieux’s Yannick, a film that’s humorous, sharp and entertaining – every part the titular heckler says the play isn’t.
The French black comedy is being streamed on MUBI. Dupieux accomplished Yannick in 2023 alongside the even funnier Daaaaaali!, a mock-biopic of the Surrealist painter Salvador Dali. In each movies, Dupieux presents a sly critique on the seriousness that surrounds artwork.
Over simply 67 minutes, Yannick packs in a wealth of element in regards to the relationship between artists and their audiences. Yannick is critic, troll and bully rolled into one. This very earnest and fairly scary younger man has robust views on what constitutes artwork, populist fare, and creativity. He’s the real-life equal of the one that leaves impassioned feedback on YouTube movies or Instagram posts.
Not solely can artists could be thin-skinned – trustworthy suggestions is overrated in addition to unwelcome – but in addition Yannick’s more and more deranged makes an attempt to take management of the play exhibits what occurs when artwork is made to bend to the desire of the folks.
Other than reducing humour and managed anarchy, Yannick has an excellent central efficiency. Raphael Quenard is extremely compelling within the lead function, making him the star of a present that his character derails in addition to a French actor to be careful for.