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ESTHER KAHN Send This Review to a Friend
A problematical film, "Esther Kahn," directed by Arnaud Desplechin and co-written by Desplechin and Emmanuel Bourdieu from a short story by Arthur Symons, has its fascinating elements, but in one major respect becomes utterly unbelievable. The setting is latter 19th century London and the focus is on a Jewish immigrant family slaving away in its small clothing factory. Esther, one of four children, is a loner who doesn't fit in. She is remote and standoffish, one who lives in her own little world. The family looks askance at her prospects; she is not one on whom to pin great hopes.
So far, so good dramatically. Summer Phoenix handles this aspect of the role well, and writer-director Desplechin re-creates the world in which she moves convincingly. The supporting characters are also played effectively. The trouble begins with Esther's developing fascination with becoming an actress. She becomes involved in a theater and her parents agree to let her work there, starting with a small part. Her growing success as an actress is a financial help to her family. Meanwhile, Phoenix is amusing as she calculatingly decides to taste life by having a sexual experience.
What really undoes the film is her being given the title role in a production of "Hedda Gabler." In the lines we hear her speak she shows herself to be such an untalented Hedda that it becomes impossible to believe the fawning over her by the other professionals. She would become a laughing stock in the role, given what we see of her ability. The situation becomes doubly absurd when she throws a tantrum and threatens not to perform if the lover who rejected her is allowed to remain in the theater with his new woman. Perhaps the show must go on, but for those around her to act as if she is such a talented star seems beyond ridiculous.
Thus "Esther Kahn" is a very mixed bag, part an interesting look at a young woman trying to find herself in London of the period depicted and part a far-fetched tale that outwears its welcome. An Empire Pictures release.
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