Les Maris, les femmes, les amants (1989)
Directed by Pascal Thomas

Film Review

Adults behaving like children, children behaving like adults... This seems to be a recurring theme in the cinema of director Pascal Thomas, the best example probably being his more recent Mercredi folle journée! (2001). Thomas's tongue-in-cheek, keenly observed comic situations abound in this loosely structured romantic comedy which includes some hilarious (albeit slightly artificial) flights of fancy. The film's main claim to fame is that it marks the screen debut of Ludivine Sagnier, the future muse of François Ozon (Gouttes d'eau sur pierres brûlantes, Swimming Pool), an astonishing young actress who immediately impresses as a future star of French cinema.

Pascal Thomas's films have a tendency to cram too much into too small a space, and this is perhaps the most noticeable failing of Les Maris, les femmes, les amants.  With so many characters and so many concurrent story lines, this is a difficult film to keep up with, and the fact there is a lack of focus and overarching central theme weakens its impact somewhat. Nevertheless, the film has considerable charm and Thomas is now well-equipped to make what will be his best film, La Dilettante (1999), the film that provided him with the perfect star for his series of eccentric Agatha Christie adaptations...

Film Synopsis

As is their custom during the summer holidays, a party of male friends descend on the island of Ré with their children whilst their wives and girlfriends stay at home in Paris.  As the women take advantage of the temporary separation to take stock of their lives, the men are busy enjoying themselves by indulging in their favourite pastime, the holiday romance.  Martin's attempt to engineer a love affair between his son Clément and Annette, the babysitter of his friend Michel, backfires when Clément falls for Jacqueline, the wife of a dour pharmacist.  Rejected by his wife, Bruno becomes easy prey for an oversexed widow, Pichard.  Back in Paris, Martin's wife Dora is struggling with her daughter Émilie's amorous escapades, whilst the pathologically jealous Marie-Françoise spies on her husband's secretary...