Night Call Review: Clumsy Racial Themes Cloud French Noir Thriller

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Night Call

In a European city embroiled in Black Lives Matter protests, a Black locksmith finds himself at odds with ruthless gangsters following an unfortunate mistake of opening the wrong door. Night Call impresses as a stylishly-filmed crime noir thriller, yet falls short in terms of logical plot development and effective use of racial strife to advance the storyline.

The protagonist, who is prone to being deceived, unfortunately slips into the stereotypical “Magical Negro” archetype frequently criticized by filmmaker Spike Lee. Instead of prioritizing his own safety, he makes questionable choices that border on gallantry, which only worsens his already precarious situation.

One evening in Brussels, Belgium, Mady Bela (Jonathan Feltre), an employee at Whiz-Lock, receives a call while he’s on duty, assisting those in need. He uses his expertise to unlock doors for 250 Euros, helping people regain access to their homes. Mady enjoys listening to classic music CDs until a call from Claire (Natacha Krief) leads him to a convenience store. Following her instructions, he accompanies Claire to a nearby apartment where she claims it’s her residence. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have any ID to prove this, but promises to retrieve it once the door is opened.

A Deadly Ultimatum

While Mady stands outside, Claire quickly comes and goes. Oh dear, she forgot her wallet. Could he stay here for a moment? She’s rushing off to get money from an ATM and will return soon. Minutes tick by before Mady understands he’s been tricked. He steps inside the apartment, discovering unsettling items and no indication that Claire resides there. His irritation transforms into fear as the true owner shows up and isn’t pleased to find a stranger snooping around.

In simpler terms, it’s unlikely that a seasoned locksmith would fall for the most common scam in their profession so easily. After all, they wouldn’t let an unknown person go without paying after opening the door. The story in “Night Call” demands a quick leap of faith to believe its premise, and this need for suspension of disbelief intensifies as the action escalates.

Ponderous Racial Themes

The challenge lies in that Mady must locate Claire and what she took before dawn, or else a very angry crime boss (Romain Duris) will ensure he’ll never be able to pick another lock in this world again. The tale that unfolds comes with numerous unexpected events, but each character seems devoid of rational thinking. Discussing particulars could lead into spoiler territory, but focusing on the racial setting allows for a crucial observation.

Mady needs to find Claire and her stolen goods before dawn, or else an enraged crime boss (Romain Duris) will ensure he never opens another lock in this world. The story that unfolds is filled with unexpected events, but the characters seem to lack common sense. Discussing specifics might lead into spoiler territory, but focusing on the racial context offers a critical insight.)

In his first feature film as director and co-writer, Michiel Blanchart uses the tragic murder of George Floyd and the global Black Lives Matter movement as a backdrop to shape his story in Night Call. Similarly, an incident sparks unrest in the city, which Mady witnesses. He observes the police’s harsh treatment towards protesters and Black citizens, leading him to doubt law enforcement’s help. Instead of seeking assistance from a lawyer, news outlet, or friend, Mady decides to confront the situation on his own. However, it’s worth noting that he could have sought support in various ways, which might have prevented the antagonists from pursuing him throughout Brussels all night.

In simpler terms, Night Call’s second part generates excitement, yet the characters become entangled in unnecessary complexities again. A skilled thief would have focused on those who knew about the apartment contents, rather than broadening the suspect pool. It makes more sense to gather the select few and start piecing together the puzzle.

Instead, let’s zero in on aspects that make it enjoyable purely for entertainment purposes. The film Night Call seems promising with strategic camera angles, impressive cinematography, and clever editing. Long tracking shots, masterfully employed by Blanchart, create a sense of tension as they wind through buildings and streets during action sequences. A specific scene might even be worth the ticket price for viewers who can overlook script finer points. Perhaps Mady was destined to be an escape artist rather than a locksmith.

As a passionate moviegoer, I find it challenging to appreciate Night Call solely based on its action sequences, given that its racial themes are weighty and pervasive right from the beginning. It leaves me questioning Blanchart’s intent behind these protest motifs. Is he trying to convey that Mady, a man wrongfully targeted due to his race, mirrors figures like George Floyd? If the characters were white, would Mady’s selflessness still have the same resonance in the face of adversaries who share his skin tone and mistrust of law enforcement? This film raises thought-provoking questions about racial profiling and its consequences.

The film titled “Night Call,” previously known as “La Nuit Se Traîne” in French, features dialogue primarily in French with English subtitles. This production is a collaboration between Gaumont, Daylight Films, Formosa Productions, among others. The theatrical release of “Night Call” in the US is scheduled for January 17th by Magnet Releasing. You can locate theater listings, showtimes, and ticket information here.

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2025-01-12 08:02