Mercredi, folle journée! (2001) - film review

A typical Wednesday in the busy French harbour town of Nantes.  Whilst children enjoy their day off school, the adults carry on with their frantic and increasingly stressful lives.   One such adult is Martin, a compulsive gambler who has agreed with his ex-wife to spend the day with his young daughter, Victoria.   Having convinced his ex-wife that he is the last person to take charge of an infant, Martin takes Victoria home to meet his mistress, Sophie.  Unfortunately for Martin, Sophie has just decided to end their relationship.  Homeless and tired, Martin then realises he has to attend a court hearing for non-payment of maintenance money to his first wife.  As things get increasingly fraught for Martin, it is Sophie who ends up keeping her father out of trouble...

Mercredi folle journée is a characteristically sunny comedy-drama from director Pascal Thomas, in which a large cast of promising child actors manage to out-do the adult cast in both number and screen presence.   The film involves numerous amusing stories weaving around the central narrative of a divorced father and his daughter.  Each of these intertwining strands contrasts the behaviours of children and adults and ends up almost convincing us than children would be better off running the world than grown-ups.

Although the film feels too busy in places, with just too many characters and situations to keep up with, its charms are ultimately overwhelming.  The way in which both adults and children are portrayed is touching in both its realism and simplicity – indeed the style of the film is very probably how a young child would view the world.  There is also plenty of first-rate comedy – not the excessive burlesque comedy of traditional French comedies or the sophisticated wit of a satire, but a gentle comedy which arises naturally from the little absurdities of adult life.

In a film in which there are so many characters, all so magnificently brought to life, it would seem unfair to single out one actor for special attention.   However, the angelic Victoria Lafaurie (Pascal Thomas’ daughter, one of the many talented child actors in the film) certainly deserves a mention, for her sensitive and entertaining portrayal of an adept adultminder.

© James Travers 2002

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