The Woman in the Fifth

Pawel Pawlikowski fashions a hallucinatory cinematic nightmare from Douglas Kennedy's novel in this uneven film. Ethan Hawke, who appears in virtually every scene, stars as bedraggled American novelist Tom, who goes to Paris to reconnect with his estranged wife, Nathalie (Delphine Chuillot), and their charming daughter, Chloé (Julie Papillon). Although the details are never spelled out, Nathalie considers Tom—who has apparently spent some time in jail—to be a threat, and calls the police when he appears. Tom escapes and winds up in a seedy bar, where he cadges a dumpy room from sleazy owner Sezer (Samir Guesmi), who gives him a job overseeing a computer console that controls entrance to his mysterious warehouse. Otherwise, Tom mostly aimlessly wanders and suffers melancholically, with the only bright spot being an affectionate relationship he develops with pretty barmaid Ania (Joanna Kulig)—until he meets enigmatic widow Margit (Kristin Scott Thomas), with whom he begins a torrid affair. The Woman in the Fifth creates an unsettling mood (increasingly bizarre and surrealistic effects are employed to portray Tom's descent into madness), but Hawke's inexpressive performance hobbles the film, and the final twist—meant to surprise—merely stupefies. An optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras include a “making-of” featurette (23 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a small extras package for an uneven film.] (F. Swietek)