AllMovie

Zaire-born, Paris-based filmmaker Zeka Laplaine takes DV camera in hand to direct this drama recalling Francois Truffant's vision of the city of lights. Since he was a young, lonely teen arriving from Africa to Paris, Max (Laplaine) has loathed Christmas. As he informs the audience, he hates being lonely -- who likes it? -- and there is something about the holiday season that inspires particular angst. This year, his lack of Yuletide cheer is especially sharp; his French wife, Helene, just dumped him, throwing Max into a downward spiral of self-pity and depression. Helene's sudden departure was in part prompted by Max's obsession with his comely mistress Keba, a jazz singer at the bar that he and his buddy Paco run. Later when he learns that Paco slept with Keba, Max's mood turns lethal. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival.