Absolutely wonderful, warmly written film catches several (slightly*) intersecting Parisien lives with ensemble cast. Sensitive Romain Duris (who we last saw in
The Big Picture but who is clearly a Klapisch favourite, appearing also in
L'Auberge Espanol, Russian Dolls and the new one releasing this year,
Chinese Puzzle, with Audrey Tatou) learns he is very ill and shares this with his unhappy sister Juliette Binoche (who's so good, you don't really notice her performance); she in turn connects with unhappy grocer Albert Dupontel. Julie Ferrier is the latter's free-spirited ex. Fabrice Luchini is sensational as mid-life crisised lecturer who wrongly believes his brother Francois Cluzet has it all, and fancies pupil Mélanie Laurent (scenes here are very Woody Allen). Karin Viard also noticeable as a highly unpleasant shop-owner, Sabrina Ouazani as her new assistant, and Gilles Lelouch as a market worker.
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| Romain Duris and Juliette Binoche |
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| Sabrina Ouazani |
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| Gilles Lelouch and Julie Ferrier |
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| Romain Duris |
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| Julie Ferrier |
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| Fabrice Luchini |
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| Mélanie Laurent |
Notice from stills the simple, direct framing and focus.
Good music by Robert 'Chicken' Burke, Loic Dury and Christophe Mintz. Shot in Panavision by Christophe Beaucarne.
Unlike most Hollywood equivalents it doesn't wrap itself up at all neatly, and is all the better for that.
*Afterthought - I'm sure the film begins with Duris phoning Luchini, who can't talk as he's on his way to his father's funeral - we don't know how these two know each other and the connection doesn't come up again... (Ed. No, that's the guy producing the history documentary who phones at the beginning.)
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