THE GIRL FROM MONACO/ LA FILLE DE MONACO

France, 2008, 95 minutes, Colour.
Fabrice Luchini, Roschdy Zem, Louise Bourgoin, Stephane Audran, Jeanbe Balibar.
Directed by Anne Fontaine.

The Girl from Monaco is a slight and wry comedy. It is a star vehicle for one of France’s best character actors, Fabrice Luchini. He plays a Parisian lawyer who comes to Monaco to defend a woman accused of killing her lover. He was part of the Russian Mafia in Monaco and so a bodyguard is assigned to protect the lawyer. Luchini plays Bertrand, the lawyer and Roschdy Zem portrays the bodyguard, ever vigilant, deemed unnecessary, but continually protecting the lawyer and becoming his confidante.

The main complication comes from a very flirtatious young woman with television and film ambitions, played by Louise Bourgoin, who continually comes on strongly to the lawyer, he succumbing to his infatuation, then wanting to be rid of her. She is killed in a car accident, the bodyguard arrested, but the lawyer claims to be responsible and goes to prison.

The director is Anne Fontaine, director of How I Killed my Father, Coco Before Chanel, and the Australian-set Adore/Adoration.

1. A light and colourful comedy, French style?

2. The Monaco settings, the city of Monte Carlo, the buildings, streets, views of the sea, the hotels, the courts, prisons? Musical score?

3. Bertrand’s story, his background as a lawyer, coming from Paris, his relationship with Helene and her arriving, impetuosity, sexuality? Arrival in Monte Carlo, accommodation, talking with friends, discovering that he had a bodyguard, his unwillingness, getting used to him, relying on him? His knowing Bertrand’s program, getting rid of Helene? The intrusion of Audrey, her flirting, television work, filming him, the sexual attraction, his response, succumbing, the ambiguities, needing the bodyguard to get rid of her? The bodyguard continually challenging him? His work in the court, the accused, the encounters with her son, the conflict at the club? In court, his appeal, cross-examination, pleading for a short sentence? His growing exasperation with Audrey, meeting her, talking with the bodyguard, changing cars, the pursuit of Audrey, the accident and her death? His memories of the bodyguard and the bad lawyer for his father and their losing everything? His taking the blame, his time in prison, exercising, pottery, seeing the accused woman leaving? The postcard from his bodyguard? His time in prison? Happy?

4. The bodyguard, his work, following, 6 metres distance, the program, his own private life, devotion to duty, getting used to Bertrand, helping him? His past relationship with Audrey? Breaking off, antagonism, getting rid of her for Bertrand? Following her in the car? The death, his being arrested, let go, looking at Bertrand, leaving Monaco, the postcard?

5. Audrey, television, vivacious, flirting, imposing, filming, Bertrand and the bodyguard watching the terrible film, her wanting to screen it? Her past with the bodyguard? The attraction to Bertrand, the sexual encounters, his reactions? Her death?

6. The case, the mother, her relationship with the Russian, her son, his relationship, his mother and the news, her killing the Russian, silent in court, going to prison, getting out?

7. The credibility of the plot – but its French-style panache?