FRENCH FILM

UK, 2008, 90 minutes, Colour.
Hugh Bonneville, Victoria Hamilton, Annemarie Duff, Douglas Henshall, Jean Dell, Eric Cantona.
Directed by Jackie Oudney

Is there such a thing as a French Film? Indeed, yes, and the French would be the first to say so. In this British French film, it is the very English journalist, Jed (Hugh Bonneville) who says it first. He is watching a Master Class by a celebrated director, Thierry Grimandi (played with all the right seriousness by former footballer and now actor and the subject of Ken Loach's Looking for Eric). It is driving him mad: the ponderous musings on l'amour, the pretentious observations about the end being in the beginning, the intrusive closeups of eyes and of coffee cups. His partner of 10 years, Cheryl (Victoria Hamilton) thinks it is all romantic. In fact, they are off to see a counsellor, played with just the right laconic sympathy by Jean Deal. Jed has proposed. Cheryl has said no. Did he want to say yes or to say no?

Jed's friend Marcus (Douglas Henshall) and his girlfriend, Sophie (Anne Marie Duff) are having a meal with Jed and Cheryl despite the bad counselling session and x reveals how he and Sophie met. She saved his life as he was going to jump for a bridge. Marcus is a Grimaldi fan and this story will come up again with a twist at the end of the film.

Marcus falls in love with his childhood sweetheart who has just reappeared in his life. Sophie is bewildered. Jed and Cheryl have some breakthrough sessions which alter their lives. And, all the time, Grimandi comments are intercut and the British love story becomes more and more French, even to the cofee and the close-ups. When Jed actually interviews Grimandi on stage, the love story comes to a head.

And, if that sounds intriguing, then you will just have to see it to find out how it all works out. Nicely acted., well-written, observant with tongue-in-cheek, British light but French serious.

1.A romantic comedy, a wry romantic comedy?

2.Themes of love, beginning and end, never? Awareness of needs? Desire for company? Falling in love – and the different taste of coffee? The feeling of can’t be without the partner? Commitment? Folly? Honesty?

3.The title, the introduction, the theory about film, love and beginnings, the man spending the night with the woman, thinking she was a prostitute, the fact that she was a dentist? The truth, lies? The set-up? The beginning and the end – irony?

4.Grimandi and his master class? French, l'amour, cerebral, the heart, pretentious comments? Jed’s British reaction? Cheryl thinking he was romantic? His comments interspersed throughout the film? The experience of film, the close-ups, the eyes, the coffee, the intensity? Jed and the later interview and Grimandi and his theories? Marcus and the story of his falling in love, Sophie saving his life, using Grimandi’s film? Deception and response? True or not? Insight? The ending?

5.Jed as a journalist, his reaction to Grimandi, the difficulties of his partnership with Cheryl, going to the counsellor, unwilling, the counsellor’s techniques, his impatience, having to talk to Cheryl? The hurt? His friendship with Marcus, meeting Sophie, listening to the story of the suicide, meeting Marcus and having discussions, the news about Kate, his feeling bad not telling Sophie, the visits to the counsellor? Saying that he loved Cheryl to bits, the counsellor pointing (*out?) that this was not love? Going out with Sophie, the interview and her presence, the crisis with the film, his return, pleading with her, going to Waterloo station, his punching Marcus?

6.Cheryl, her character, the past, drinking, dependence on Jed, the ten years? Grimandi as romantic? Wanting to go to the counsellor, expressing her hurts? The proposal, her saying no? The dinner with Marcus and Sophie? Discovering that she had not been in love with Jed? The break-up? Feeling free?

7.Marcus, the Scotsman, friendship with Jed, the relationship with Sophie, the story about the attempted suicide, the flashback and visualising it, her talking him down, love? The meals, the outings with Jed? Kate and the story, the schoolgirl crush, the infatuation, keeping it a secret? Sophie being hurt? The film, her walking out? Waterloo, seeing Jed punch Marcus, having the coffee with him? Being by herself, welcoming Jed back?

8.Sophie and her life, love for Marcus, the lies, the attraction to Jed, her feeling bad, anger at his keeping the secret? Thinking things over – a future?

9.The counsellor, his presence, style, questions, getting them to address each other, his smiles? Congratulations?

10.Grimandi, the interview, French arrogance, confidence, the clips, the truth, the lies – and the beginnings?

11.A happy ending, Cheryl in the restaurant – and Grimandi being present?