FILM: PAPA, OÙ T’ES? ***1/2

30 October 2026

PAPA, OÙ T’ES? ***1/2 (vo French)

Here’s a documentary that is almost too good to be true. It’s about a young man, Nicolas Trouvé, 27 years old, who wants to find his biological father after having been shuttled from orphanages to one foster home after another, throughout his childhood. He is biracial, with a French mother who gave him away at age three, and a Senegalese father whom he cannot remember. So this should be a sad story, and yet it is colourful, brilliantly filmed and constructed, and Nicolas himself is a charming, bubbling optimist.

So we follow his earnest quest as he explores various possibilities, turning to his mother, who has her own problems and few answers, and to one kind and caring foster mother, while also looking for financial support to get to Senegal, in the search for his father.

Very professionally done, this is a wonderfully enlightening and moving story of a man who needs to find a basis for his existence: a family that he never had. This is the sort of story that is repeated in the thousands in France and elsewhere, but rarely with positive results. That’s why Nicolas’ drive and optimism are so important.

Highly recommended – but have some tissues around, for there may be tears while your heart is soaring for Nicolas.

LE FANTÔME DE L’OPÉRA ** (vo French)

This frequently produced Gothic tale is beautifully filmed in and around the Palais Garnier in Paris, but its mysterious story of an opera house haunted by a magnetic recluse has turned into a manipulative, fantasy melodrama aimed at attracting a younger crowd.

There’s the sweet young ballerina, with those doe eyes and moist, pulpy lips, who is to dance the lead role in Orpheus, a ballet that is supposed to be cursed. There’s the romantic phantom – or is he one? – who may be her saviour or her lover. Oh dear, how thrilling. And so it goes…lots of hyped-up moments, soaring music, and much over-acting.
If that’s your thing, go for it…

GIFF - Geneva’s own home-grown film festival
October 30 - November 8, 2026

Welcome to GIFF! This unique film festival began in 1995 as “TOUS ÉCRANS”, meaning ‘all screens’, embracing everything from feature films to TV series, interactive installations and virtual-reality works. It was renamed the Geneva International Film Festival in 2017, and is now in its 32nd edition.

Explore its rich offerings on their website to discover such outstanding events as:

• More than a hundred international works, with many of their invited creators, including the upcoming sensation, “Club Kid” and other worthwhile films such as “La Bola Negra”, “Elsinore” or “Frank and Louis”.
• TV series such as the new British “California Avenue”, starring Helena Bonham-Carter and Bill Nighy.
• A new revelation of Music Videos, featuring such top choreographers as the renowned Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, a regular at our Grand Théâtre ballet evenings.
• And a special award honouring the great Indian film director Mira Nair and her works.

These are just a few tastings of what is happening right here in Geneva over the coming week – at such venues as the Grütli, Théâtre Pitoëff, and the Cinérama Empire – don’t miss them!

Superb **** Very Good *** Good ** Mediocre * Miserable – no stars

By Neptune

Neptune Ravar Ingwersen reviews film extensively for publications in Switzerland. She views 4 to 8 films a week and her aim is to sort the wheat from the chaff for readers.

Click here for past reviews.

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