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| Jean Lefebvre and Lydia Feld in Fifi Martingale |
Jacques Rozier's last film, Fifi Martingale, was never theatrically released, and it's easy to see why: It's a mess. That it's often an amusing mess doesn't excuse the fact that it looks like a bunch of talented people got together and decided to make a movie poking fun at theatrical types without more in mind than that. The premise is that the writer of a hit play has decided to rewrite the play in mid-run, and when one of his performers is injured, he signs as a replacement an actor who has a photographic memory. But on the night that the play is to resume its run, the actor suddenly loses his ability to remember his lines. That in itself would be enough to sustain a farcical satire, which is what Fifi Martingale seems to want to be. But Rozier and co-writer Lydia Feld have so many other things in mind that the film keeps rambling off of the central premise, and does so for two hours -- Rozier was never one who believed that less is more. If you're someone who wants a movie to make sense, avoid this one. But if you're less demanding, there are enough moments to justify your time. At least I learned that a martingale is a betting strategy that involves doubling your wager each time, whether you win or lose. Rosier's movie wins some but loses more.
