ELLE S’EN VA/ ON HER WAY

France, 2013, 116 minutes, Colour.
Catherine Deneuve, Nemo Schiffman, Mylene Demongeot, Camille,
Directed by Emmanuelle Bercot.
Competition.

We are on familiar French ground with this bittersweet domestic comedy – exceedingly familiar ground. It is one of those quite wel-made stories of past mistakes, botched relationships, mutual hurts and possibilities for reconciliation. If that is an attractive recipe, then this one is much of a muchness with all the other similar films.

The main attraction is Catherine Deneuve as Bettie, almost 70, but still a picture of glamour, despite some heaviness in her figure – one can say this in a review because characters actually refer to it, no, poke some fun at it. And she is grandma.

She now runs a restaurant which has fallen on hard times. She is a widow. She belongs to that generation where fidelity didn’t seem a requirement for marriage. She has just been ignored and abandoned by an old lover. She lives with her mother who is urging her to go for a calendar shoot with all the Miss Regions of France of 1969 where she was Miss Brittany. She goes off for a drive – and there are consequences when her estranged daughter asks her to pick up her son and take him to stay with his other grandfather.

He is a spoiled brat and is demanding with his unfamiliar grandmother. Despite this they very quickly bond and he decides that she should go to the calendar celebrations. She does, enjoys herself but faints and can’t drive the boy further. The grandfather turns up although he in the middle of municipal elections. And he is surly. However, they travel to his house, clashes and criticisms. Bettie’s mother turns up and then her daughter. And what happens? They all join in in one of those French meals seen in every other film. Despite the loss in the election, reconciliations are effected – and, very quickly, a new future for Bettie.

French film-makers keep turning out, churning out, this kind of movie.

1. Familiar themes in French films? Popular themes and characters? The female perspective of the director?

2. French towns, homes and restaurants, the countryside, motels, municipal elections? The musical score, songs?

3. Catherine Deneuve, a French icon, nearing 70, beauty, strength and presence?

4. Bettie’s story, her past, the dominance of her mother, the beauty contest in 1969, shy and awkward, the accident, her being reticent about the death of her friend? Mourning him? Her husband, his mistress, choking in the restaurant, the doctor and Bettie’s relationship to him? Her humor about her husband’s death? Her relationship with Etienne, his breaking it off, her being hurt, disturbed? Talking with her mother? Her mother’s insights? The restaurant, clients, her welcoming them, in the kitchen, her moods, buying? Upset and going for the drive?

5. The drive, her being away from people she knew, new people, talking, drinking?

6. Her daughter’s situation, the phone call? Alienation from her daughter, her daughter’s alienation? Driving, the rain, Casimir and his help in the rain, the store, sleeping on the bed, the discussions and explaining her story, her being late for her grandson?

7. Charlie, 11 years old, spoilt, his absent father, his devoted mother, love for his mother, no love for his grandfather? His bratty behaviour with Bettie? Singing in the car, his comments, Bettie’s slow driving, nervous with passing traffic? The stop, sharing the motel room, the sun-glasses, her credit cards failing, his running away, Bettie bewildered, driving and finding Charlie, the argument, his having stolen the glasses, apologies?

8. The bonding, his answering the phone about the pageant, urging Bettie to go, to stay the night, Bettie meeting the women, chatting, reminiscences? The photo-shoot? Friendship with fanfare and, the old friendship, comparisons about what had happened, the photo, Bettie fainting, going to hospital? Her not being able to drive?

9. The grandfather, surly, Charlie’s attitude, his arrival, driving, not much conversation?

10. The elections, his team, support, information about the voting, his losing?

11. Muriel’s arrival, loss of her job, upset, the arguments with her mother, the tantrums, love for Charlie? The criticisms of Bettie and her childhood?
Stories of the past, her medication?

12. Bettie’s mother arriving, news about the restaurant, the sale of the house, the difficulties?

13. Bettie and Allain, the talking, that cooking, sharing experiences, his story about his son, his resenting?

14. Charlie, the girl, the happiness together? Betty and Allain and the sexual relationship, taking it for granted? The children looking into the room?

15. The meal, everybody gathered together, talk, reconciliation?


16. A slice of French Life, family, relationships, attitudes toward sex, fidelity? The future?