The universe offered by Bruno Dumont in Slack Bay is unconventional enough by Cannes standards. In a 1910 vaudeville setting on the French beaches of the English Channel, the son of a ferryman falls for the daughter of a local upper class family during a police investigation. Confusion and mayhem ensues.

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Winner of the 2006 Grand Prix at Cannes for Flanders, Bruno Dumont returns with a whimsical tale staffed by the cream of French cinema, including an over-the-top Juliette Binoche, Fabrice Luchini and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. The adventure starts off with loads of promise and yet... The vibrant energy of the off-beat screenplay slowly trickles away after the first half hour of the film. While the rest is a fun ride, an entertaining parade of images and events, it eventually becomes tiring.