Je reste!
2003 Comedy / Romance
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Credits
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Summary
Marie-Do and Bertrand have been married for 15 years. They have a young son and appear
to be the model couple. But, for Marie-Do, the strain of pandering
to her self-centred, cycling-obsessed husband is starting to show.
Then she meets Antoine, a lonely scriptwriter who, unlike Bertrand, shows her respect
and understanding. Finally driven to distraction by her husband’s
addiction to bicycles and Brel, Marie-Do announces her decision to separate and start
a new life with Antoine. Unfortunately, Bertrand has no intention
of leaving her apartment…
Review
Je reste! marks something of a departure for
director Diane Kurys, a light-hearted satire of married life, contrasting with her earlier
realistic dramas. Whilst it certainly does not have the originality
and impact of Kurys’ better films – and the tabloid vulgarity may disappoint many of the
director’s fans – Je reste! does have great entertainment
value and, in many ways, is acutely spot-on in its depiction of a faltering relationship.
Sophie Marceau shows an unexpected flair for comedy (which
doubtless other directors will now be keen to exploit), but it is Vincent Pérez
as the “hubbie from Hell” who gives the biggest laughs. The
one thing that does let the film down is its idiotic denouement (or, rather, series of
denouements) where you can hear the screenwriter screaming out loud: "Help! I can't work
out how to end this story!" It’s a good example of where it pays to leave the cinema
five minutes before the credits roll and invent your own ending.
© James Travers 2006 Write a review for this film... |
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