Mensonges et trahisons et plus si affinités... (2004)
Directed by Laurent Tirard

Film Review

A first film is rather like a first novel.  More often than not, it's an occasion for an aspiring auteur to take stock, to try to draw together the multifarious strands of his or her existence into a coherent whole, a kind of self-therapy against the first pangs of middle age.  Often, all this proves to be exercise in narcissistic self-indulgence, of little or no interest to others.  Sometimes, however, the result of such morbid navel gazing can be quite illuminating to others, providing some new insights, a new artistic vision, or, failing that, a cracking piece of entertainment.

Journalist and writer Laurent Tirard is obviously all too aware of the pitfalls of starting a new artistic career and makes this the basis for his first full-length film.  It's an intelligent yet humorous romantic comedy which explores that perennial favourite, coping with mid-life crisis, with surprising depth, originality and lightness of touch.  There are occasional purple-tinted flecks of narcissism and self-indulgence, but it's hard to be sure whether these are genuine flaws or intentionally put in by Tirard in a gesture of sly self-mockery.  The mad episode with the wild boar is certainly the kind of thing that should only appear in a director's first film - but it fits in so well that you wouldn't really want it to have ended up on the cutting room floor.

Well-directed and well-written as the film is, its real selling point is its amazing cast.  Who better than Edouard Baer (the actor who constantly looks as if he has only just woken up) to play a disillusioned anonymous hack harangued by existentialist angst and romantic idealism?  Who better than Clovis Cornillac (France's answer to Jude Law, maybe) to play a self-obsessed celebrity Neanderthal who reckons he can teach Baudelaire a few things about literary style?   And let us not forget two great supporting actresses in the shape of Alice Taglioni and Marie-Josée Croze (a Canadian actress who found fame with Denys Arcand's 2003 film Les Invasions barbares).  It is a fine ensemble of talented actors who each brings truth and conviction to the piece, making it far more than just another vacuous divertissement.  Mensonges et trahisons et plus si affinités (a ghastly title, it must be said) is certainly an entertaining film - hilariously funny in places - but it is also a film with depth and charm, a film that prompts us to reflect, to look outwards and see our own lives in a new light.

Film Synopsis

Raphaël is a 30-something writer who earns a crust churning out insipid autobiographies for the latest trendy, empty-headed celebrities.  He dreams of writing a book he can publish under his own name, but hasn't the confidence to realise this ambition.   His latest commission is for a star footballer, Kevin, who has some strange ideas about literature.  Raphaël's antipathy towards this loutish sportsman is exacerbated when he learns that he is currently hooked up with Claire, an old flame of his.  Immediately, the writer finds himself torn between conflicting desires.  Should he dump his faithful but dull girlfriend Muriel and embark on a wild romance with Claire?  Should he give up his remunerative job as a ghost-writer to pursue that elusive literary career?  Raphaël's humdrum life is about to get very complicated…