Peau d'ange (2002)
Directed by Vincent Perez

Drama / Romance
aka: Once Upon an Angel

Film Review

Abstract picture representing Peau d'ange (2002)
Peau d'ange is a curious little film which has great strengths, but also many weaknesses, and this may account for the very mixed reviews it received on its release in 2002.  The film marked the directorial debut for Vincent Perez, who had previously built up a solid reputation as an actor, appearing in such memorable French films as Patrice Chéreau's La Reine Margot (1994).

On the plus side, the film has an excellent cast and features some remarkable performances, particularly from its two leads, Morgane Moré and Guillaume Depardieu, who convincingly portray the anguish and vulnerability of their characters.   With such strong performances, it would appear churlish to look for faults elsewhere, but the deficiencies in the scripting department are so blatant, they are hard to overlook.

The fundamental problem with this film, and the only thing preventing it from being a great piece of drama, is that the whole thing feels painfully contrived and rushed.  The characters are two-dimensional and are not given time to develop.  The story has too many improbable elements to be convincing and ultimately feels naive and insubstantial.   Perez's direction may lack confidence but overall is pretty respectable for a first film, showing a surprising maturity in some scenes.
© James Travers 2008
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Vincent Perez film:
Si j'étais toi (2007)

Film Synopsis

17-year old Angèle leaves home and finds work as a housemaid to a bourgeois couple in a nearby town.  One day, she meets a young man in a suit, Grégoire, who passes himself off as a manager in a music company.   Mourning the recent death of his mother, Grégoire is in need of company and he persuades Angèle to spend the night with him in a hotel.  The next day, they part and have no intention of seeing one another again.   Angèle soon realises that she is in love with Grégoire and decides she must find him...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.


Film Credits

  • Director: Vincent Perez
  • Script: Vincent Perez, Jérôme Tonnerre, Karine Silla (dialogue)
  • Cinematographer: Philippe Pavans de Ceccatty
  • Music: Alexandre Azaria
  • Cast: Morgane Moré (Angèle Dubois), Guillaume Depardieu (Grégoire), Karine Silla (Laure), Magali Woch (Josiane), Hélène de Saint-Père (Mme Artaud), Stéphane Boucher (Dr. Artaud), Maryline Even (Jocelyne), Esse Lawson (Amira), Michel Vuillermoz (Oncle de Grégoire), Dominique Blanc (Soeur Augustine), Laurent Terzieff (Mr. Grenier), Olivier Gourmet (Mr. Faivre), Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (Avocate), Marine Delterme (Mme Faivre), André Marcon (Père Angèle), Jean-Philippe Écoffey (Homme bar de nuit), Bruno Todeschini (Homme bar de nuit), Elisabeth Commelin (Mère Angèle), Sandra Nkake (Mme Voght), Anne Collomb-Blake
  • Country: France
  • Language: French
  • Support: Color
  • Runtime: 85 min
  • Aka: Once Upon an Angel

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