French Film

2008 "Could it be that French is the true language of love?"
6.5| 1h27m| en
Details

Jed prepares to interview French cineaste and self-appointed expert on the nature of love - Thierry Grimandi. The worldly and somewhat jaded Jed is dead-set on dismissing the auteur's musings as pompous and, well French, until his own relationship with Cheryl starts to fall apart and he is forced to re-evaluate the illusive subject. Soon everyone is talking about love: his relationship counsellor, drinking buddy Marcus and Marcus' girlfriend Sophie Beginnings, endings, tricks...could the French be on to something?

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Reviews

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
BallWubba Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.
TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.
Syl Hugh Bonneville plays a reporter who will interview a French film director whose best works are about love films between men and women. He has been with the same woman, his girlfriend for 10 years and she doesn't want to marry him. His best male friend has reunited with an old girlfriend but is still involved with somebody else/ The film is about the British traditional view of relationships against the French film versions of love and romance. The acting is first rate with co-stars Victoria Hamilton and Ann-Marie Duff. This film was made for British audiences. I was lucky to have got and see only half of it because my DVD copy (I bought it from Blockbuster) at a discount rate before the store closed forever. I would like to know what happened in the end to all of them.
gradyharp British films have a certain flavor of sophistication even when they are dealing with stories about Brits in their long time foes - the French! Aschlin Ditta came up with this little story that is subtle, thought provoking, and warmly humorous as directed by Jackie Oudney and acted by a superb cast - a film that engages the audience's own life and relationships.Jed (Hugh Bonneville) has been in a ten year relationship with Cheryl (Victoria Hamilton), plans to marry her, but discover they don't love each other after all. Jed is a magazine feature writer who, as the movie opens, is grumbling about his upcoming interview with a fatuous French cineaste and love guru Thierry Grimaldi (ex-soccer player Eric Cantona) whose theories about love Hugh finds ludicrous...and overly 'French'. Jed's best friend Marcus (Douglas Henshall) madly loves his girlfriend Sophie (Anne-Marie Duff), or so he says, before a chance encounter with his first love of 20 years before. Marcus wants to run off to Paris to marry her, leaving Sophie behind, loveless and forlorn. Of course it all works out for the best, but it is the getting there as acted out by these fine thespians that make the film a joy. Subtlety, innuendos, and halting conversations make this an adult romantic comedy able to carry enough weight to make is significant entertainment. Grady Harp
bmeuse1 Lovely, tender slice of the lives of a well-drawn characters engaged in a neurotic pursuit of real feelings - that is, love. Each well-drawn character is afflicted by the very human condition of an uncertain mind and a vacillating heart. Their insecurities drive their pursuit to know their own heart as they try to stimulate genuine feelings they haven't felt for a long time. Nice pacing, nice cinematography, simple dialog, and very good acting. The film lies astride the merge between wry comedy and tender drama. For me, this is much enjoyable and absorbing film in the tradition of Woody Allen.This is a wonderful take of life and love and a film that resonates in the heart. If you don't enjoy this film, you don't have a heart. Recommended for romantics of all ages. A must-see.
Tyger-Flynn Rare in these days that a film of this depth was successfully made - while still being funny, which will throw some people off because they will assume it's just a frothy romantic comedy with a few pertinent things to say. It even gets better with each successive viewing - which makes a DVD purchase a must for those who understand why this film received two awards at Monte Carlo (for Best Actor and Best Screenplay). May be too subtle for some who are looking for a broad stroke - but it is laughing out loud funny in many parts (if you get the complexity) due to the writing, directing and excellent ensemble cast. They all do well but of special note is Hugh Bonneville (who won for Best Actor at Monte Carlo) as the lead character Jed. Douglas Henshall is his best friend Marcus and Anne-Marie Duff and Victoria Hamilton are the girlfriends.