Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!

Jenni Devyn Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

betty dalton This review will never achieve in representing the wonderfully joyous feeling this picture gave me, because HOW can I express into words these feelings of love and hilarious joy, that are so subtle and sweet? I am not a writer, I am merely an ordinary yet passionate movie lover. But the only thing I want to achieve with my review is to seduce everyone who is reading this to give this movie a chance, just for 15 minutes. If you dont get the subtle humoristic direction within the first 15 minutes than this is just not the sort of comedy you like. No problem whatsoever. But everybody please do give this gem a chance, because for all those who already love the smaller arthouse movies, especially for those who already love French cinema and the finer French comedies, this is truly one of the best french comedies ever performed on the moviescreen. The more often I see it, the more I have come to love it, because the acting AND the dialogues AND the direction AND the soundtrack AND the editing are all together one subtle comical hommage to LOVE. Vive L'amour! I just wanna explain with this little review that this movie is all about being rejected and finding love again. All the characters in this movie struggle with broken hearts, and they all still do long passionately to find true love again. Will they? Ofcourse they will. This is one terrific feel good movie, with some melancholic french notes mixed into it, because there is no comedy without some true to life drama. Think of Woody Allen falling in love, for those unfamiliar with french comedies. That doesnt do justice to this french masterpiece, but I dont know how else I can convince people to give this movie a chance. Woody Allen's comical whining about his trouble with women comes close to the whining in this picture about the failed relationships. But everything is portrayed so comically that the most depressing break ups and misunderstandings between men and women are just a joy to watch.

Galina When I wrote about Agnes Jaoui's "Comme une image" (2004)aka "Look at me", I called it a triple triumph for its writer/director/star. I should have reserved the definition for her debut, The Taste of Others (2000) which was nominated for the Oscar as The Best Foreign Film and for nine Cesars. The film received four Cesars, including two for Jaoui, for Best film and Best Writing that she shared with her off-screen husband and co-star/co-writer, Jean-Pierre Bacri. The film deserves them all. It belongs to one of my favorite genres of different kind of comedy, subtle, depending not on laughing out loud situations and the funny clichés but on the genuineness of the characters and their interactions. It is a character driven film, and every character is alive, real, often weak and even boring but as their stories interweave, we began to see how much the movie has to say about many important things and how well it did so. What really attracts me to Agnes Jaoui's film is non-judgment of the main characters but the interest to and understanding them. This is the French film in the best meaning of the word - not glamorous, without expensive set decorations or breathtakingly beautiful lead heroes whose passion would burn the screen, no, it is quiet, ironic, elegantly constructed, it moves on its own relaxed pace, but it never drags, and its every word, smile, look, and sound combine in a wonderful watching experience. I also see it as a young writer/director/star's comment on the importance of art in our lives, and how it can really change a person and their outlook. One more thing, I simply admire Jaoui's taste in music. The scores for this film and for "Look at Me" include the examples of some of the most beautiful classic music ever written.

MartinHafer I knew absolutely nothing about this film other than what the DVD cover said. In giant yellow letters were reviews saying "witty"and "laugh-provoking" and so I naturally thought the film would be a comedy. Well, to me it really wasn't. I did laugh once very briefly--and a small laugh at that. Now this ISN'T meant as negative criticism--the film's makers were not responsible for how it was mismarketed. The movie still worked for me as a romance but only once I let go of my expectations and forced myself to watch through the first 20 or so minutes (which were pretty slow), I found the movie interesting and different--something that occurs too seldom with films. I wouldn't strongly advise a person to seek out the movie, but it's a harmless diversion.The main theme of the movie is mismatched pairs. Mr. Castella is in an unhappy marriage and most of this seems to be because his wife hates people--making herself a lousy partner. The one laugh I had was when this terrible woman's dog bites a passerby. Instead of showing any sympathy, she blames the man! Then, you find out her dog bites people all the time but it's always the victim's fault! Mr. and Mrs. Castella go to a play and Mrs. Castella talks through much of the play and finds fault with everything. Mr. Castella usually hates the theater but is mesmerized by the performance of one of the actresses--the same lady who is also his English language tutor. Mr. Castella spends much of the movie trying to hang around this actress and her bohemian friends--even though he really has nothing in common with them and appears to have no chance with the lady.There are a couple parallel plots that also have to do with mismatched couples. One is Mrs. Castella who tries for once to reach out to another person--in this case, her estranged sister-in-law. Another involves a drug-selling lady who works in a bar and is pursued by a conservative man! All these relationships are difficult, if not impossible to believe. Some work out, some do not. Despite me NOT believing the old axiom that "opposites attract", the film is clever and well made--with very believable and low-key acting by people who act like real people. I respect the film a lot--though I didn't find myself thrilled enough to understand how it was nominated for the Best Foreign Film Oscar. But what do I know?Incidentally, Jean-Pierre Bacri not only played Mr. Castella but he also wrote the screenplay. I have seen him in several films and like his persona--an "everyman" who is pretty likable.

Forbes500 Was kind of surprised how good this movie was. I can't recall exactly when I realized how much I was liking it, but it may have been during one of Castella's (the bald guy) English lessons with the actress/teacher Clara. Or maybe it was when I realized that the artists, those arbiters of taste, were really getting a good grilling. On second thought, I know when it was: when Castella cursed upon discovering the play he'd been dragged to was in verse!The rest of the cast was great too, and I know Agnès Jaoui did everything from writing and directing to co-starring, but would it be too much to ask her also to give us an unreserved smile? Just one? Nice work all the same.