If like me you like French films, you will like this one. There is no
plot to speak of and no time wasted in car-chases and violent action
sequences. There is just fascinating dialogue and the interaction of
intereresting characters, plus the expression of real emotion and
nuances of feeling. There is an intimacy with the characters that is
typically French and which the Americans rarely achieve. At the end of
the film you feel you know and understand these people and are wiser for
having known them.
I loved the performance of Catherine Frot in the film, She was delicious
and made the character of Yolande incredibly appealing and lovable.
What a crying shame she should have shackled herself to such a
self-centred, unappreciative husband. He was the luckiest man alive and
yet too obtuse to realize it. Hows appallingly sad.
The high-light of the film for me was the little dance Yolande had with
the quiet, philosophic bar-man Denis, played by Jean-Pierre Darroussin,
who, revealing his kind heart, offered to dance with her when her
insensitive husband refused - despite the fact that it was supposed to
be her birthday celebration. Denis's skillful dancing surprised them all, and disclosed a whole new
aspect of his personality. There is a touching moment at the bar when
Yolande, suspecting Betty's romantic interest and trying to encourage
it, says to her with a lovely winsome expression; `He's a good dancer.' And at the end of the film when Betty and Denis are seen to declare
their love for each other, she says delightedly, to the chagrin of her
snobbish and spiteful mother-in-law; `You know what this means? It means
he's going to be
plot to speak of and no time wasted in car-chases and violent action
sequences. There is just fascinating dialogue and the interaction of
intereresting characters, plus the expression of real emotion and
nuances of feeling. There is an intimacy with the characters that is
typically French and which the Americans rarely achieve. At the end of
the film you feel you know and understand these people and are wiser for
having known them.
I loved the performance of Catherine Frot in the film, She was delicious
and made the character of Yolande incredibly appealing and lovable.
What a crying shame she should have shackled herself to such a
self-centred, unappreciative husband. He was the luckiest man alive and
yet too obtuse to realize it. Hows appallingly sad.
The high-light of the film for me was the little dance Yolande had with
the quiet, philosophic bar-man Denis, played by Jean-Pierre Darroussin,
who, revealing his kind heart, offered to dance with her when her
insensitive husband refused - despite the fact that it was supposed to
be her birthday celebration. Denis's skillful dancing surprised them all, and disclosed a whole new
aspect of his personality. There is a touching moment at the bar when
Yolande, suspecting Betty's romantic interest and trying to encourage
it, says to her with a lovely winsome expression; `He's a good dancer.' And at the end of the film when Betty and Denis are seen to declare
their love for each other, she says delightedly, to the chagrin of her
snobbish and spiteful mother-in-law; `You know what this means? It means
he's going to be