‘Dry Leaf’: A Cinematic Experience Not to Be Missed

Currently in theaters, Dry Leaf, directed by Alexandre Koberidze, has garnered an impressive press rating of 4.3 out of 5 on AlloCiné, based on reviews from 16 outlets.

This film, which blends elements of experimental cinema, documentary, and road movie, premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, where it received accolades. Released this week, it is being hailed as the standout film of the moment.

Synopsis

The story follows Lisa, a sports photographer who mysteriously disappears, leaving behind a note asking not to be searched for. As Lisa had been capturing images of football fields in remote villages, her father, Irakli, armed with a list of locations from her editor and accompanied by one of her friends, embarks on a journey to find her through the vast and beautiful landscapes of Georgia.

Critical Reception

Critikat.com describes Dry Leaf as a visual wonder, stating, "Koberidze films Georgia using an outdated mobile phone in a style reminiscent of an impressionist or an archaeologist. The result is a paradoxical road movie, haunted by absence yet infused with a sense of fullness." - Robin Vaz, 5/5

Les Fiches du Cinéma praises the film's transformative quality: "Dry Leaf accomplishes an alchemical miracle, enhancing its artistic constraints (three hours in low resolution) to create a reconfiguration of the senses that cleanses the eyes and purifies the soul." - Clément Deleschaud, 5/5

Les Inrockuptibles calls it "a cinematic shock that lingers in the mind." - Jacky Goldberg, 5/5

Libération highlights the film's unique approach: "At the intersection of road movie, experimental cinema, and documentary, this dazzling feature showcases the beauty of a deserted rural landscape, contrasting the precision of digital technology with a form of technological de-growth." - Clément Colliaux, 5/5

Cahiers du Cinéma notes the film's nostalgic essence, stating, "While the film is filled with nostalgia, it is not for its medium, which has rarely, if ever, been used in cinema. Koberidze finds a magical filter in this small phone-walkman (weighing less than 100 grams), inventing a method and language that feels uniquely his own." - Elie Raufaste, 4/5

Le Monde remarks on Koberidze's artistic flair: "He has the ability to create sandcastles and drama, bringing inanimate beings to life and enchanting the audience." - Cl. F., 4/5

Positif expresses admiration for Koberidze's observational style: "Dry Leaf is one of those films that inspires a desire to follow its creator, whose aim is to observe people and animals, shadows and days, in the best possible way." - Nicolas Geneix, 4/5

Télérama describes the film as "a meditative road movie, shot on a mobile phone, that is both beautiful and enigmatic." - Cécile Mury, 4/5