What I appreciated most about Le Plongeur is how it neither romanticized nor catastrophized addiction, allowing the main character of this story to just be a human who makes some bad choices and fuddles his way through. This felt extremely honest. Leclerc films his story in a dark wash so everything just feels a bit grimy but also lived in and rather ordinary adding to the film's honesty. There is just enough liveliness to the film to keep it interesting to watch while also giving us compelling characters who are never extreme or cinematic, yet often quite familiar.
Picard is strong here as a young man managing despite not handling life well. His performance is understated, eschewing the big scenes for smaller, quieter moments. He portrays both his character's rush during his gambling addition and the frustration of his life catching up with him, all with an subtle power. Yes he is highly charismatic on screen but also manages a very everyman realness that helps bring this character's story to life so effectively.
It is the film's restraint from the big breakdown moments which help make it feel so damn real and keep you so grounded in its story. There are moments many people will recognize. Yet the film remembers that it is a visual story and it remains quite visually interesting. It is perhaps one of the more effective memoirs of addiction due to its up front nature and unsensational approach.
Le Plongeur
Starring: Herni Richer-Picard
Director: Francis Leclerc
Writers: Éric K. Boulianne, Francis Leclerc
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