Voyous voyelles (2000) - film review

After the death of their father in a diving accident, two teenager sisters Léa and Aurélie live with their mother on a Parisian housing estate. Aurélie uses her young sister to lure young men to a sports stadium, where she robs them.  One such scam is witnessed by Anne-Sophie, a 19 year old girl who is about to kill herself after having been rejected by her former lover, Bernard.  The three girls strike up an uneasy friendship and Anne-Sophie moves in with the girls, pretending to be an English exchange student.  Léa and Aurélie decide to help their new friend get even with Bernard.  In return, Anne-Sophie agrees to help the two girls in luring and robbing more victims, an innocent game which suddenly takes a dramatic turn...

The main reason for watching this film is for the remarkable performances given by the three young female leads.  Within a very short time of appearing in this film, both Olivia Bonamy and Audrey Tautou have attained celebrity status in France – Bonamy for her part in Claude Lelouch’s Une pour toutes, Tautou winning a best newcomer César for her role in Tonie Marshall’s Vénus Beauté Institut. Tautou has since acquired international fame for her lead role in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Le Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain.  It is probably only a matter of time before the younger Axelle Ade-Pasdeloup wins such cult status.

The calibre of the acting makes this a compelling character study in teenage rebellion.  The film itself is a typically French social comedy/drama, an engaging and entertaining film which fails only in its lack of realism.  The housing estates where the girls live look unconvincingly clean and safe (and white).  Even the teenage boys (predominantly white) who hang around the streets appear friendly and co-operative – a far cry from Mathieu Kassovitz’s view of a similar social setting in his film La Haine.

Whilst the film’s lack of realism robs it of some measure of authenticity, the thought that has gone into the character development and the convincing way in which these characters are portrayed prevent the film from appearing superficial and irrelevant.  The way in which the comedy is used in the film is also very pleasing. adding to rather than detracting from the underlying drama.  Whilst some of the jokes are distinctly dépassé, the three young actresses give the comedy a satisfying spontaneity and freshness, making this a fun film to watch as well as a slightly moving one.

© James Travers 2000

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