Jumbo is a film released in 2020, which has not necessarily been talked about much, and it is rather surprising given its intriguing starting pitch. Indeed, it is about a shy young woman who falls in love… a merry-go-round. We warned you! Note: Cover photo is by Caroline Fauvet After this first amusing approach for some, confusing, or totally stupid for others, we immerse ourselves in this dramatic tale. A relatively concise tale for our time, with a duration of 1h35 on the counter. And we must admit that sometimes it feels good not to have to start for more than 2 hours, focus on a screen. So much our mood varies from day to day.
A film with undeniable qualities
Okay, so what do we get out of this footage? Well, it must be said that we come out mixed. Not only to say that the work is simply average, but rather because we say that it has real strengths, but still suffers from weaknesses, which make us come out thoughtful. Yes, because here the potential is real! More than a drama, this Belgian-French-Luxembourg production dares. It takes us to lands that we are less used to seeing, from our own industry. A fantastic genre cinema. So certainly, these are snippets, which do not cover the entire film. But at the same time, we don't necessarily need to see them in every scene. Well-placed touches are more than enough to make us dream. Indeed here, the so-called "fantastic" scenes, concern the merry-go-round, nicknamed "Jumbo". 
This pile of scrap metal comes to life on the screen and it's beautiful. Between off-screen scenes, by a play of colors that makes us live emotions and understand a dialogue between the protagonist and Jumbo. And other scenes where "the beast" is clearly visible on the screen. The camera then takes a step back, and manages to frame this game between this iron giant and Jeanne. A relationship that can sometimes remind us of the one between King Kong, and the seemingly tiny, Naomi Watts, in Peter Jackson's film. We could also compare Jumbo to Eliott the dragon, in the 1977 film or the 2016 film, it doesn't matter. Through his exclamations, and his movements of sympathetic beast. And finally, we must note this work of sound rather remarkable, because bewitching. Here too, he participates fully in the success of this kind of scene. In addition, it is striking from the beginning, we are then sucked in the first minutes. Let's also go back to photography. As we said, just above, colors play a decisive role in our understanding of Jumbo's moods. It's true, we really feel his sensitivity, and it brings to the relationship between the 2 characters. The few scenes demonstrating this budding love, then take us to emotions and a strange feeling of floating. A little out of time. And these scenes necessarily take place at night, a bit like in a dream. In short, it should be said that this merry-go-round is extremely well personified and this duo sublimated. From both points of view. And if Jumbo convinces us, it is also the case of actors like Noémie Merlant, who plays Jeanne, her mother played by Emmanuelle Bercot, or the other two male main roles. Here, they are plausible and non-Manichean characters, simply human, with their own sensitivity.
But who suffers from some bad choices
But then, what's wrong? Why this feeling of small lack? This group of young people, very cliché, who harass Jeanne, all along? Admittedly, it is rather poorly brought (because seen and reviewed), redundant and incoherent. But despite a few eyes on the ceilings, that's not what's going to ruin an entire movie. It's true, we often see it, so if we forgive it to some, why not to this one? No, it's something else. If, as we said, the starting premise is interesting, and can allow to dig a lot of subjects. We actually find ourselves a little disappointed by the choice of treatment of this relationship. On what she basically says. Here, we talk about tolerance but in a unbalanced way. And we were entitled to dream better, after the synopsis and this start. Because if the message is pushed to the end (which is to the credit of the screenwriter), it is clear that the end could leave more than one on the tile, as the situation is laughable. However, the fact remains that we are still a minimum embarked until the end and we end up saying why not? Thanks to the talent of the trio of actors, between the mother, the stepfather and Jeanne in particular. 
What should we get out of Jumbo?
Finally, Jumbo certainly has flaws, could have better exploited its theme, and pushed poetry and dreamlike a hair further. But it ends up tending towards earth to earth, making everything unbalanced in our opinion. However, it has above all many qualities, among interesting risk-taking to take into account for our national cinema. If improvement is possible, creators like Belgian director/screenwriter Zoé Wittock must be given the chance to express themselves again and again. For that, watch these kinds of movies. You will certainly have a good time there, and maybe the flaws expressed will not be in your eyes. Jumbo is available on OCS On-Demand until March 12.
Jumbo trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH7YbgwtatU
