Trop belle pour toi (1989)

Trop belle pour toi is a French romantic film drama first released in 1989, directed by Bertrand Blier.  The film stars Gérard Depardieu, Josiane Balasko, Carole Bouquet, Roland Blanche and François Cluzet.  It has also been released under the title: Too Beautiful for You.  Our overall rating for this film is: very good.


Bernard is a successful car dealer with a beautiful and adoring wife.  His life is turned upside-down when he falls in love with his secretary, Colette.  Although she is rather plain and somewhat vulgar, Bernard is overwhelmed by his passion for Colette, who feels just as strongly about him, even though she too is married...

Bertrand Blier’s most impressive film to date, Trop belle pour toi is an intensely melancholic and moving portrait of obsession and marital infidelity starring France’s leading actor, Gérard Depardieu. When the film was released it received mixed reviews from film critics but it went on to earn a brace of prestigious awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes in 1989 and three Césars in 1990 (best film, best script and best director).

Although less anarchistic and extreme than Blier’s preceding films, Trop belle pour toi is just as unpredictable, surprising and absorbing.  What is most remarkable is how Blier can take such a simple, almost trite, plot and transform it into a work of profound significance and depth.  With the narrative switching seemlessly between past and present, Blier cleverly develops his characters and show how the unlikely affair between a successful businessman and his plain secretary transforms the lives of these characters and their respective spouses.

Blier is masterfully served by his talented lead actors, with Depardieu, Josiane Balasko and Carole Bouquet turning in some of their finest performances.  Add to that some mesmerising photography and a well-crafted script (in which Blier’s dark humour is evident as ever) and the result cannot fail to be a major cinematic achievement.

© James Travers 2002

Bertrand Blier is one of the most respected French film directors in France and worldwide.  Trop belle pour toi is full of surrealist moments, in that Blier creates a situation that is for real or not there at all.  Once drawn in, I could hardly take my eyes off the screen.  No matter how old this film is, it will always appeal every time it is seen   The storyline is based on daily occurrences.  A well-to-do car salesman, married to femme fatale Carole Bouquet, falls for an average looking secretary.  One of my favourite moments is the movie score, Franz Schubert piano sonatas and Quartet -  Oh! it is wonderful.  The main characters’ son listens to Schubert for a school assignment and the father hates the "sad" music and yet it enchants and captures him in a spur of the moment.  

One of the protagonists says to a stranger "I have just spent three hours making love." "Wait a minute, why are you telling me this?" she replies.  "Good news needs to be shared" -  absolutely hilarious.  The wife becomes worried about the new woman.  She awaits by the phone for her lover to call, now is this real or a dream?  Blier provides no easy answers but let the viewers decide.  Ever since I saw Mon Homme Blier has always been  my favourite filmmaker.  Gérard Depardieu and Carole Bouquet are at the top of their game with truly beautiful, emotional and excellent performances.  I bought my DVD from Amazon UK R2.  Oh! buy it for Schubert’s piano music and it will break your heart and yet you will love it.  The ending, wow! just great, I laughed out loud and called my friends to come over the following day to see it.  This film is for initiated French movie fans otherwise you will get lost along the way the first time, but on second viewing you won’t.  Absolutely thrilling film.  4 stars.

© Thanda Makhathini 2008 (South Africa)

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A fantastic tribute to Bunuel and Cocteau - or is it just a satire on surrealistic pretensions? Four of us viewed, at times enthralled with the visual adventurism and emotional experimentation, at times agape at the sexual daring amd ultimately pissing oursleves laughing. On the downside, why insult Schubert, and just who was the mystery pianist imitating Einstein?
© Tom Caple (Mildeenhall) 2011 

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