Past Sunday Morning Movie “The Man in the Basement” (L’Homme de la cave) Co-Presented with VIFF

Synopsis

When a retired history teacher (François Cluzet) agrees to rent out their basement storage space, Simon and Helene (Jérémie Renier, Bérénice Bejo) are delighted. Less so when he starts living down there. Worse: the man turns out to be an anti-Semitic conspiracy nut. And he’s not about to let them renege on their contract.

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Philippe Le Guay’s tenant-from-hell thriller is graced by strong performances from the starry French cast, and doubles as a surprisingly thoughtful deliberation on the pernicious (and prevalent) combination of Holocaust-denialism and white persecution complex.

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As provocative, intelligent and suspenseful as anything you are likely to see this year.

Rex Reed, Observer

A gripping, smart and timely film that’s part thriller, part domestic drama and all cautionary tale.

Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times