Line #41 Film/Annette


1	[[quoteright:270:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/annette_poster.jpg]]
2
3	->''"So, may we start?"''
4
5	''Annette'' is a 2021 musical film directed by Leos Carax (in his English-language debut), with a screenplay by Ron Mael and Russell Mael of {{Music/Sparks}}, and Carax, from an original story, music and songs by the band.
6
7	The plot follows a stand-up comedian, Henry [=McHenry=] (Creator/AdamDriver), and his opera singer wife, Ann Defrasnoux (Creator/MarionCotillard), and how their lives are changed when they have their first child.
8
9	----
10	!! This film provides examples of:
11
12	* AngryMobSong: "Six Women Have Come Forward" and "You Used to Laugh."
13	* AnimalMotifs: Monkeys and apes, such as Annette's plush monkey, a room of plush gorillas, and Henry's stand-up routine, Ape of God.
14	* ArcWords: Dying and bowing.
15	* BerserkButton: [[spoiler:Hearing Annette play "We Love Each Other So Much" on the piano is enough to send (admittedly, very drunk) Henry into a homicidal rage.]]
16	* BreakingTheFourthWall: The beginning of the film and its opening number, "So May We Start," ''annihilates'' it, featuring the cast and crew directly addressing the audience out-of-character and asking them to pay attention.
17	* CallingTheOldManOut: [[spoiler:Annette towards Henry near the end of the film]].
18	* CerebusCallback: The song "We Love Each Other So Much," which Ann and Henry sings early on in the film is revealed to be [[spoiler:a song The Accompanist created for Ann, during their affair. When Annette plays the instrumental version of it on her piano, that sets Henry down a path that lead to The Accompanist's death]].
19	%%* CharacterTitle
20	* ChildPopstar: [[spoiler:Henry turns Annette into one.]]
21	* ChildProdigy: [[spoiler:After Ann's death, Annette is revealed to be able to sing opera prodigiously when moonlight hits her face.]]
22	* ClusterFBomb: "You Used to Laugh."
23	-->Fuck off, fuck off, fuck outta here!
24	* ColorMotif: Henry is associated with the color green (clothing, accessories, the lighting and set design in his stand-up show, his motorcycle helmet), suggesting his jealousy over Ann's success.
25	* CosmicMotifs: Much of Annette's baby wear and bedroom decor features the moon and stars.
26	* CreatorCameo: Ron and Russell Mael, along with director Leos Carax are in the opening [[AsHimself as themselves]] before the former two appear again as a pair of airline pilots.
27	* CrowdSong: The audience at Henry's stand-up routines frequently engages in them using a CallAndResponseSong format.
28	* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:If you view a movie from ProtagonistCenteredMorality, by the end of the movie, Henry's career is in tatters and he's found guilty of killing both Ann and The Accompanist, while Annette comes back to tell him she's given up her career and is never talking to him again, leaving him completely alone. Though, if you find Henry completely unsympathetic it could be seen as BittersweetEnding for Annette (more of sweet then bitter) since she finally gets to make decisions for herself and no longer is a puppet for either of her parents]].
29	* DreamingTheTruth: Ann has one where six of Henry's exes come forward to accuse him of DomesticAbuse, especially a vicious temper. [[spoiler:Ends up becoming DreamingOfThingsToCome when he's indirectly involved in her death and directly in The Accompanist's death.]] The movie does not delve into any of Henry's past relationships.
30	* DudeNotFunny: Henry's audience is revolted by his routine describing how he killed his wife by tickling her.
31	--> '''Henry:''' ''[[CallBack So why did I become a comedian?]]''\
32	'''Audience:''' ''You're not! You're not! Not Any More! Asshole! Asshole! Sick! Sick!''
33	* IdiotBall: [[spoiler:The Accompanist accepts Henry's offer to "talk" about his relationship with Ann and the fact that he might be Annette's father--at night, outside, by the pool, while Henry is drunk. It's a fatal mistake.]]
34	* JukeboxMusical: While most songs are original, there are a few allusions to and uses of older Sparks songs such as "Rock, Rock, Rock", "Thanks But No Thanks", "Bon Voyage", and "The Calm Before the Opera." Henry also directly quotes a passage from [[Music/TomLehrer Tom Lehrer]]'s song "National Brotherhood Week" in the first performance we see of Ape of God.
35	* LetsDuet: "We Love Each Other So Much," overlapping with SillyLoveSongs, among a few other duets between Henry and Ann.
36	* {{Lunacy}}: [[spoiler:Annette's incredible singing talent is activated by moonlight, real or artificial.]]
37	* MamasBabyPapasMaybe: [[spoiler:The Accompanist suggests that there's a small chance he may be Annette's father, having dated Ann just before she met Henry. [[HeKnowsTooMuch He probably shouldn't have said anything.]]]]
38	%%* TheMusical
39	* NeverMyFault: Henry's sentiment towards his audience during "You used to laugh" when they don't take kindly to his routine.
40	-->''What's your problem? What's your fucking problem?\
41	It's your problem! Fuck, it's not my problem!\
42	It's your problem! Your fucking problem!''
43	* NoNameGiven: Simon Helberg's character is credited as The Accompanist.
44	* OrbitalShot: A particularly impressive one as The Accompanist addresses the viewer with some exposition while conducting an orchestra.
45	* QuarrelingSong: "Let's Waltz in the Storm!".
46	* RepetitiveName: The male lead is named Henry [=McHenry=].
47	* SelfDeprecation: On a meta level in "So May We Start":
48	-->The authors are here, so let's not show disdain\
49	The authors are here, and they're a little vain
50	* WhamLine: Annette drops this bombshell during a live performance:
51	-->[[spoiler:''"Daddy kills people."'']]

Context Film / Annette