Mon meilleur ami (2006/I)

Director:

Patrice Leconte

Writers:

Olivier Dazat (idea)
Patrice Leconte (writer)

Release Date:

6 December 2006 (Italy)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

It takes a lifetime to learn the meaning of friendship...Francois has 10 days.

Plot:

Catherine, refuses to believe that her business partner, the unlikeable François, has a best friend, so she challenges him to set up an introduction. Scrambling to find someone willing to pose as his best pal, François enlists the services of a charming taxi driver to play the part.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Business | Partner | Friendship | Best Friend

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Daniel Auteuil	...	François
Dany Boon	...	Bruno
Julie Gayet	...	Catherine
Julie Durand	...	Louise
Jacques Mathou	...	Père Bruno
Marie Pillet	...	Mère Bruno
Élisabeth Bourgine	...	Julia (as Elizabeth Bourgine)
Henri Garcin	...	Delamotte
Jacques Spiesser	...	Letellier
Philippe du Janerand	...	Luc Lebinet
Fabienne Chaudat	...	Épouse Lebinet
Jean-François Kopf	...	Commissaire priseur
Alain Rimoux	...	Marchand dîner
Marc Faure	...	Ami dîner 1
Éric Frey	...	Ami dîner 2

Also Known As:

My Best Friend (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some strong language.

Runtime:

USA:90 min | USA:94 min | Canada:94 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:94 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Ireland:12A | USA:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:All | Australia:M | Germany:o.Al. | France:U | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-3 | Singapore:PG | Peru:14 | Norway:10 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Parc des Princes - 24 Rue du Commandant du Guilbaud, Paris 16, Paris, France

Company:

Fidélité Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When François and Louise sit in Bruno's taxi, during a cut showing the passengers the taxi is moving, but in the cuts before and after (showing the driver) the same cars can be seen parked on the side as if the taxi was standing still in between.

Quotes:

Bruno: Isn't there anybody you can call at 3 a.m. in case you have a big problem?
François: I don't have any big problem.
Bruno: Yes, you have one, you can't call anybody at 3 a.m.!

Movie Connections:

References "Qui veut gagner des millions?" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Balaton Boléro

A Winning Combination of Talent and Tenderness

MON MEILLEUR AMI (MY BEST FRIEND) is a gift from France to movie lovers. Though it can be considered a 'comedy' in the French tradition, it is also a fine examination of the importance of friendship in a world too cluttered with 'acquaintances' passing as friends. Just what a 'friend' means is only one important message of this lovely film: the manner through which we identify meaningful relationships is the other.

Writer/Director Patrice Laconte (Intimate Strangers, The Man on the Train, The Widow of Saint-Pierre, The Girl on the Bridge, Tango, The Hairdresser's Husband, Monsieur Hire, etc) knows how to take an idea and allow it to blossom without distortion or preaching. He understands the intimacy of friendships and knows how to draw superlative performances from his actors - an obvious extension of the concept of friendship! François Coste (Daniel Auteuil) is an antiquities dealer with his lesbian partner Catherine (Julie Gayet), and while François is a successful businessman, he is a self-centered isolationist who has never been able to make or retain friends, a fact that is put before him at the scantily attended funeral of an associate. François and Catherine attend an auction where François pays a high price for an antique Greek vase, a receptacle for the tears of an ancient man's friend. This purchases encourages Catherine to challenge François to a bet: François must introduce to Catherine a 'best friend' within ten days or the vase belongs to her. François, oblivious to the fact that he is completely without friends (including his own daughter Louise - Julie Durand), accepts the challenge and so the search for friends begins. François exhausts his possibilities, all the while being driven about Paris by a loquacious taxi driver 'Balanchine'/Bruno Bouley (Dany Boon) who has his own problems: he has worked all his life to prepare for a fact-answering position on a television game show, but suffers from a severe case of nerves when before a crowd. Very gradually the two men bond and François realizes Bruno is the closest thing he has to a friend. A plan is hatched which will apparently benefit both men's weaknesses, but as life often does, surprises alter the plans. How the film ends is so tender that sharing it would destroy the fluid progression of Leconte's storytelling.

Both Auteuil and Boon are superb in the leading roles and yet every minor role is in the hands of the cream of France's crop of supporting actors. The pacing of the film, the cinematography, the musical score, and the script are perfectly melded. Yet it is the magic hand of Patrice Laconte that makes this movie understated and wholly credible, allowing the audience to relate to the sensitive weaknesses of the two men and grow into their tenuous relationship. It is a joy to watch and remember. Grady Harp