Nos enfants chéris (2003) - film review

One day, two ex-lovers, Martin and Constance, run into each other in a supermarket.  After several years apart, they find they are now in their early thirties, are married and are just discovering the joys of parenthood.  Martin casually invites Constance to join him and his wife at their second home during the summer.  He is surprised when Constance takes up the offer and arrives with her two young children and macho sports-obsessed husband.  The presence of other houseguests complicates matters further and the holiday soon loses its charm.  In the end, Martin finds he has to choose between the life he now has, with its security and adult responsibility, and the possibility of a fresh start with his former love, Constance.

With more than a touch of the great film auteur Eric Rohmer in both its writing and its presentation, Nos enfants chéris is a skilfully crafted moral tale which is every bit as entertaining as it is insightful.  This beautifully photographed light comedy is witty, engaging and uplifting, yet it also has a sombre side, allowing us to reflect on the sad reality about the transience of love and the constantly evolving nature of human relationships.

Although the film has a plethora of characters and, consequently, many subplots, its director (Benoît Cohen) manages to keep the narrative focused on its central theme (the rekindling of Martin and Constance’s former passion) whilst allowing the secondary characters to each make a meaningful contribution.  The dilemma posed by the film – whether a mature adult should reject his or her parental and marital responsibilities in the name of romantic love elsewhere – is delicately handled, in a way which most of us can easily sympathise with.

© James Travers 2003

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