Sur les Chemins noirs, with Jean Dujardin, after Sylvain Tesson: review and trailer

Published by Nathanaël de Sortiraparis · Published on March 10th, 2023 at 12:02 p.m.
Adapted from the story of the same name, written by Sylvain Tesson, who tells his story, Denis Imbert unveils "Sur les Chemins noirs". The film, with Jean Dujardin in the lead role, is expected to be released on March 22.

Sylvain Tesson 's story had been a phenomenon in bookstores. It is therefore normal that the cinema is interested in it. And it is the director Denis Imbert who is in charge of the adaptation, with Jean Dujardin in the main role. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters on March 22.

The trailer of On the Black Paths

So the film tells the story that Sylvain Tesson himself lived, in 2014, after suffering an accident during a drunken evening. Sold more than 230,000 copies before its release in paperback, the book had been acclaimed. In addition to Jean Dujardin, the cast also includes Izïa Higelin, Anny Duperey and Joséphine Japy.

Our opinion

One might expect an opportunistic and miserabilistic film about a man attempting a long walk of resilience after a serious accident. However, On the Black Paths is the complete opposite. First of all, we appreciate that the story of the accident (shown too much in the trailer), is evaded to keep only snippets of it. Throughout the story, we won't know exactly what happened to this pseudo Sylvain Tesson so that he is so disfigured. The drama is evoked by small touches, before having the whole picture.

Denis Imbert manages to avoid a classical and boring story and shows from the beginning his character as a man a little unsympathetic, but transformed by this drama. This is well served by Jean Dujardin's fine acting. But we will not lie to ourselves, what will interest the spectator most in this feature film is the splendor of the natural scenery filmed. This tour of France on small roads is visually sumptuous, and gives the film a postcard aspect far from being unpleasant.

Obviously, this will not be enough to convince the most cinephiles, which is why the script is fleshed out with the story that the character writes along his journey. This makes On the Black Roads an eminently literary film, with the voice-over of its protagonist, a witness to what is written in these little notebooks. We have not read Sylvain Tesson's book, but we would not be surprised if this voice-over was taken directly from its pages.

In the course of this therapeutic journey, the character meets a whole gallery of characters, but it is alone that the adventure is the most exhilarating for him. It's a matter of getting lost on the roads to better find oneself, a beautiful journey of resilience, which commands respect when one knows that it was really made by Sylvain Tesson. This is a film that will appeal to lovers of beautiful language and little-known corners of the country.

The synopsis of Sur les Chemins noirs

Pierre, a writer and explorer, climbs the facade of a hotel, drunk, and falls several stories. The shock plunges him into a deep coma. When he wakes up, he can barely stand upright and against everyone's advice, he decides to travel across France on foot using the diagonal of the void, to cross these forgotten paths. A unique and timeless journey to meet the hyper-rurality. "My salvation was in the movement, if I succeeded in my crossing, I would obtain reparation.

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Practical information

Dates and Opening Time
Starts March 22th, 2023

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