The final part of Belvaux's trilogy, 'After Life' returns to the more serious themes of 'Trilogy 1: On the Run'. A kitchen sink melodrama, 'After Life' considers the case of Pascal (Melki), a cop who falls for a teacher called Agnes (Dominique Blanc). Problem is that Agnes is rather fond of drugs, and this compromises Pascal's overbearing sense of crusading justice. The arrival of a terrorist (Belvaux) who is on the run (pun intended, etc) merely adds to Pascal's heightened sense of anxiety.
Characterisation is the key to 'After Life' and Belvaux handles the melodramatic overtones of the material in a truthful, if occasionally laboured, style. Adopting a sombre tone, the film adds an emotional weight to what has come before in the other two instalments, giving the film an extra resonance. The performances are rich and layered, especially those of the two leads, but the major pay off in 'After Life' is the conclusion of the narrative twists of what has gone before (depending on the order on which you've seen the films). As a trilogy, the multi-perspective is a clever and valuable tool, and of the three films, 'After Life' is probably the most effective as a stand alone excursion.
