Nathalie Baye is on the screen in almost every scene, and it's never too much. She's outstanding. The supporting cast are also very good. The directing is mostly quite good too. But the real treat is in the story.
The main character, Angèle, is a beautician who is afraid to fall in love, because she's been hurt too much in the past. A new man tells her he's in love -- the last thing she wants to hear from a man. She's 40, but the story would have worked for a person of any age. (I saw the movie at a Seattle International Film Festival screening. Director Tonie Marshall told us in the audience that she had Nathalie Baye in mind as the star, and wrote the character to fit her.) But I can't say much more about the main plot without spoilers.
While the story is centered on Angèle, there are several other interesting characters, mainly her co-workers (particularly young, innocent Marie) and some interesting regular clients (particularly the comical Madame Buisse).
While the story is mainly a romantic comedy, there is some drama. The story does a good job of keeping the comedy and serious drama from running into conflict with each other. And unusual for a comedy, the story doesn't stray from plausibility for the sake of humor, but the comedy is still strong.
The main character, Angèle, is a beautician who is afraid to fall in love, because she's been hurt too much in the past. A new man tells her he's in love -- the last thing she wants to hear from a man. She's 40, but the story would have worked for a person of any age. (I saw the movie at a Seattle International Film Festival screening. Director Tonie Marshall told us in the audience that she had Nathalie Baye in mind as the star, and wrote the character to fit her.) But I can't say much more about the main plot without spoilers.
While the story is centered on Angèle, there are several other interesting characters, mainly her co-workers (particularly young, innocent Marie) and some interesting regular clients (particularly the comical Madame Buisse).
While the story is mainly a romantic comedy, there is some drama. The story does a good job of keeping the comedy and serious drama from running into conflict with each other. And unusual for a comedy, the story doesn't stray from plausibility for the sake of humor, but the comedy is still strong.