Pédale douce (1996) - film review

Adrien is about to close an important business deal with banking supremo Alexandre.  Before signing the contract, Alexandre invites Adrien to a dinner party, insisting that he bring his wife.  Being gay, Adrien has no other option other than to ask his best friend, Eva, to pose as his wife.  The owner of a riotous gay club, Eva is a free speaking individual who generally despises heterosexual men despite being attracted to them.  Alexandre is so taken with Eva that he decides to make a surprise visit to her “restaurant”.  He is not impressed by what he sees: one of his colleagues, André, and Adrien are having a wild time in the company of overtly gay men.   What Alexandre doesn’t realise is that his wife, Marie, has followed him to the restaurant and quickly puts two and two together, concluding that her husband is a closet homosexual.  Whilst Alexandre resorts to ever desperate means to get it together with Eva, Marie becomes even more convinced that he is gay...

One of the most popular and talked about French films of 1996, Pédale douce is effectively an updated version of the classic La Cage aux folles (1979) in that it largely features gay characters conforming pretty much to the stereotypical view of the time.  Whilst the film has some very funny comic situations and is occasionally rather moving, the sheer abundance of gay clichés makes the film appear dated and painfully unsubtle – and some may even find it offensive (for the same reason that jokes about racial minorities have become unacceptable).   The wonderful Fanny Ardant was awarded a César for her complex and rather touching portrayal of a “fag hag” torn between the two men she loves, one straight, the other gay.  Unconventional and mildly provocative, Pédale douce still manages to entertain, in spite of Patrick Timsit and Jacques Gamblin’s awkward and downright embarrassing attempts at playing gay.

© James Travers 2006

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