Bienvenue en Suisse (2004) - film review

After an absence of several years, Thierry returns to his home in Switzerland to attend the funeral of his grandmother, accompanied by his partner Sophie.  He is surprised to learn that he is to receive a large inheritance, provided he can convince his two uncles that he intends to put this to good use.  When he fails to do this, his cousin Aloïs persuades him to try again, encouraging him to show an interest in Swiss culture.  This time, Thierry is successful, but he immediately becomes concerned over where the money has come from.  Meanwhile, Sophie finds herself drawn to the irresistible Aloïs...

Old rivalries between France and Switzerland come to the fore in this breezy romantic comedy from débutante Swiss film director, Léa Fazer.  Vincent Perez, Emmanuelle Devos and Denis Podalydès are the attractive participants in a quirky ménage-à-trois romp which sees one man chase after an inheritance of dubious provenance whilst the other chases after his wife.  On the way, all of the prejudices and petty loathings that the two nations have for one another are rehearsed ad nauseum, to the point that you might think the two countries had been at war for five hundred years.  What the film lacks in originality and coherence it makes up for in charm and energy, and who can resist a film in which Vincent Perez plays the part of a Swiss Don Juan, with the lovely Emmanuelle Devos his intended victim?

© filmsdefrance.com 2008

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