LOLO

France, 2015, 109 minutes, Colour.
Julie Delpy, Dany Boon, Vincent Lacoste, Karin Viard,
Directed by Julie Delpy.

Julie Delpy has had a successful career as an actress and then as a writer and as a director. She works comfortably in France as well as in the United States, having both citizenships. She came to international notice with Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise as well as in the two sequels.

This is a light-hearted film but with serious undertones.

Julie Delpy portrays a woman whose husband has left her, is successful professionally, but has a son who is emotionally dependent on her, though she does not realise this. On holiday in Biarritz with her friend, played by Karin Viard, she becomes involved with an IT expert who is more than a little on the awkward side, Dany Boon.

They begin a relationship, he moves to Paris with his IT expertise, moves in, encounters the son who seems to be friendly but all the time moves to undermine him and his relationship with his mother. This causes several embarrassing situations and a rift between the two.

There is an eventual showdown after a disaster for the IT presentation but the son has to face up to the reality of his relationship with his mother, taking too literally her saying that he was her greatest love, and having to move out to greater independence – with the couple happily reuniting.

1. A comedy with serious undertones?

2. The career of Julie Delpy, as actress, as writer, as director? Performing all three roles in this film?

3. The settings in Biarritz, the holiday atmosphere, the spa, the hotel? Jean- Rene’s world, IT? Seen as something of a Biarritz bumpkin? The contrast with Paris, the world of fashion, society? The world of IT? Homes and apartments? The apartment with a view of the Eiffel Tower? The scenes in Greece? The musical score, songs?

4. The title, Lolo appearing later in the film, the focus on Violette and Jean- René? The introduction to Lolo, his age, Violette’s son?

5. Violette, her friendship with Ariane? At the spa? Violette and her tension? The conversations about sex, frank and explicit? Relationships? The invitation to the party, meeting with Jean- René and his friend? Jean- René and his cooking the barbecue, Violette’s approach, the attraction, the unlikely pairing, the instant relationship?

6. Violette, her work, at home, past relationships, her husband leaving, the lovers?

7. The portrait of Lolo, age, behaviour, artist and his work? His being at home, the couple falling on the bed, the effect on his ribs? His casual attitudes, living at home, his reaction to Jean- René, ridiculing him, yet being polite to his face? His scrapbook insulting him? His reaction to Jean- René moving in? Comments on his clothes, going shopping, yet setting him up with inappropriate clothes? The itch powder and its effect? Spiking his drink and the erratic behaviour in conversation? Helping him move, his friendship with Lulu, the question of the computer? Violette and Jean Rene setting up the paintings?

8. Violette, her enjoying the relationship with Jean- René? Taking him out, the interaction with Karl Lagerfeld? The selfie? The tensions, moods and up and downs? Her losing faith in him?

9. Jean- René, his skills, his 20 years of work, fearing the loss of the computer? The night before his presentation, the alarm clock, the earplugs, Lolo and the two women, Lolo and his spiel about Jean- René, their going into his bed, his waking up, Violette and her reaction?

10. Jean- René, late, the presentation, the collapse of the system? His aggression towards Lolo? His arrest, the interrogation? His being given 48 hours to repair the damage – and his success?

11. Lolo, his exhibition, his mother believing his every word? Abandoning Jean- René?

12. His mother finding out the truth, his concealing her notes, his scrapbook, the discussions with him, his saying that she had always said he was her greatest love, she saying that is what mothers said, his believing it, getting rid of his father, the lovers, and Jean- René?

13. His mother ordering him out, going to London, the happy reunion?