Romuald et Juliette (1989)
Directed by Coline Serreau

Film Review

Coline Serreau followed her box office hit Trois homes et un couffin (1985) with this charming romantic comedy which features an improbable romance against a backdrop of boardroom intrigue.  Whilst the plot is ludicrously contrived and is let down by some awful stereo-typical characterisation, it does have one significant plus point: the pairing of Daniel Auteuil with Firmine Richard.  This casting is a stroke of genius, both actors bringing more than a note of poignancy and humanity to what would otherwise have been a pretty routine comedy.  Amazingly, this was Firmine Richard's first professional acting job, not that you would ever suspect as much.  Since, she has appeared in well over a dozen films, including Francois Ozon's 8 femmes (2002).  Less conspicuously, two actors who have since acquired celebrity status also make their debuts in this film: José Garcia and Isabelle Carré.

Film Synopsis

Romuald Blindet, the young managing director of a major French yoghurt manufacturing company, finds himself in deep water when he tries to increase productivity at one of his factories.  Several instances of food poisoning later it becomes apparent to the anxious Romuald that his job may be on the line.  Fortunately, he has a guardian angel he never knew existed - his black office cleaner Juliette.  She comes in every evening to clean his office, and he scarcely notices her.  And why should he? - she is only the cleaning lady.  But it is through Juliette that Romuald discovers he is the victim of a conspiracy cooked up by two of his senior colleagues to oust him from the company.  Romuald can hardly believe this at first but it turns out that Juliette was right, and it is through her timely intervention that he manages to salvage his career.

Not long after this episode, it is Juliette who desperately needs Romuald's help, to lend her some money so that she can pay for a lawyer after her son Aimé has been arrested for drugs use.  But Romuald is out of the country at the time, on a business trip to America, and so Aimé is convicted and sent to prison.  On his return to France, Romuald settles his debt with Juliette and her son quickly gains his freedom.  Romuald's next shock is the discovery that his wife Françoise has been having an affair behind his back with one of his colleagues - the one whose ineptitude almost cost him his job!  Romuald now realises that there is only one woman he loves, and that is Juliette.  The question is: does she feel the same way about him?  She has already been disappointed with five husbands.  Will she even consider taking on a sixth...?