Yes, you're right, the less-than-insightful reviews from Cannes weren't very supportive. Five is the kind of work which willfully gets compared to Snow's seminal Wavelength, and when it doesn't quite measure up, it is thrown aside for being pretentious.

Thanks for your comments. I'm glad that the film is being released in the U.S. I initially watched it at the retro, but after being informed that it only truly comes into perspective if seen alongside About Five I decided to borrow the French DVD from a friend as well, and that certainly helped. I hope you get the chance to watch it in the near future.