LA NUÉE

"Virginie" (Suliane Brahim) runs a farm. Well a tent on a farm, really - and it isn't paying the bills. Did you know that locusts have more protein in them than beef? Well she does and that's what she hopes to farm. The snag is that these little critters are all proving a little lethargic and so her opportunities to feed herself, daughter "Laura" (Marie Narbonne) and son "Gaston" (Raphael Romans) are proving limited. Might she even have to sell up? That wouldn't bother "Laura" at all, but her lad is a little more curious in these insects and so initially she decides to persevere. Reaching the end of her tether one day, though, she has a bit of a temper tantrum and ends up passed out on the floor of her giant vivarium. When she comes too she makes quite an interesting discovery - locusts quite like blood. Indeed, when fed regularly on the stuff they thrive. Now she just needs to procure enough, make sure that they don't escape, and perhaps her fortune might be made? That's easier said than done but instead of focussing more on that more sinister and creepy thread, this film spends way to much time dealing with the family dysfunction and with her relationship with the kindly "Karim" (Sofian Khammes) who runs an adjacent vineyard; who helps out on occasion and is clearly a bit keen on "Virginie". What happens next? Well there are lots of shots that could have been narrated by Sir David Attenborough, but at almost every opportunity it deflects from the potential menace of these buzzing and numerous bugs and takes us back indoors to family stresses, strains and tedium. It's a shame, really, because there is something in the thinking behind this, but the acting, writing and general direction it takes really disappointed. Sorry.