Attention! Une femme peut en cacher une autre (1983) - film review

To her friends, Alice gives the appearance of being an ordinary, happily married career woman.  In truth, she is leading a bizarre double life.  She spends half of her time with her husband Philippe, an airline pilot, and her son in Paris.  When her husband is away from home, she hastens to a coastal town where she has a second family and another job.  Alice met Vincent shortly after walking out on Philippe more than a decade ago, and it was love at first sight.  Ten years and two children later, Alice finally meets up with Philippe again.  Realising that she still loves him, she decides to return to Philippe, but on a part time basis.  Philippe knows nothing about Vincent, and Vincent knows nothing about Philippe.  For how much longer can Alice persist with her incredible time-share life?

This sentimental comedy-drama is not the kind of film one would associate with director Georges Lautner, who is far better known for his tough crime thrillers and comedy thrillers.  This is certainly far from being Lautner’s finest hour, and it is quite obvious that the film is intended primarily as a vehicle for actress Miou-Miou.  Despite some engaging performances, the film’s portrayal of human relationships feels superficial and contrived.  The representation of children as adults is obviously intended to be funny but here it is just irksome and an unwelcome distraction from the film’s central theme.  The biggest let down, however, is the film’s atrocious cop-out ending which merely highlights fundamental weaknesses in both the direction and the scripting.

© James Travers 2006

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