Qui m'aime me suive (2006) Directed by Benoît Cohen
Comedy / Drama
Film Review
Mid-life crisis seems to be a recurring theme in Benoit Cohen's work. After Nos enfants chéris (2003), he brings
together Romane Bohringer and Mathieu Demy for a similar bitter-sweet portrayal of a middle-aged
man who is forced to review his life and decide on his future direction.
Qui m'aime me suive may not be as convincing
or as polished as Cohen's earlier film, but it is a thoughtful and well-realised piece
of comedy-drama, funny in some places, poignant in others, and with a hugely engaging
performance from Mathieu Demy. The film's brutally pessimistic ending jars somewhat
with the generally upbeat tone of the film, although Cohen does succed in making his point
with great effect.
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Film Synopsis
Maxime Maréchal is a respected medical practitioner in his mid-thirties
who could not be happier with the way his life is going. He has a devoted
wife, Anna, and what more success could he ask for than to be made the head
of a private clinic? Then it suddenly dawns on him that maybe his life
isn't going the way he would like it to. What if he is deluding himself,
living only for the approbation of others instead of doing what he really
wants to do? He is mulling matters over in a bar when he comes into
contact with Chine, a woman of about the same age as him who is happy making
a modest life for herself as a cabaret singer. Chine doesn't care that
she isn't rich or famous - she is doing what she wants to do, and that is
the crucial thing. Chine's story comes as a revelation to Max.
Realising what a fool he has been, he gives up his well-paid, well-respected
job and makes a fresh start. When he was a teenager his sole ambition
was to form a rock band with his friends. Now the time has come for
him to make that dream a reality. Unfortunately, making a new life
for yourself in early middle-age isn't quite so easy as Max reckons, but
he is determined to make it work, whatever the cost...
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