Filles uniques (2003) - film review

Carole is a successful lawyer, organised, self-disciplined and so busy that she only ever sees her husband at bedtime.  Tina is a petty thief, wild, emotional and has no difficulty picking up men for one night stands.  The only things the two women have in common is that they are both in their early thirties and are only daughters – throughout their lives, both have felt the absence of a sister.  Despite their differences, the two women bond almost immediately, and they each begin to change the other – for better or for worse…

With Filles uniques, director Pierre Jolivet returns to form with the kind of character-based comedy that French cinema audiences adore.  He is particularly fortunate in that his two leading ladies – Sandrine Kiberlain and Sylvie Testud – are two of the most talented, vivacious and popular actresses in France at the present time.  The two thesps complement each other perfectly, making a double act that offers not only great entertainment value but also some insightful perspectives on femininity in a world that places ever increasing demands on women.   There’s an excellent supporting cast – Vincent Lindon, François Berléand and Roschdy Zem – and some great dialogue, although the film’s freshness and appeal take something of a nosedive in the last twenty minutes as characterisation plays second fiddle to plot and the film loses some of its magic along the way.  Whilst not quite up to the standard of Jolivet’s earlier comedy Ma petite entreprise (1999), it’s an engaging and satisfying divertissement.

© James Travers 2007

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