I was impressed by the performances of Charlotte Gainsbourg and Yvan Attal (who co-habit in real life) in the 2001 film "My Wife Is an Actress" and so I was pleased to find this earlier film, "Love, etc." they did together in 1996. It is a moving, evocative story marked by good acting but unfortunately marred by a terrible ending that is contrived, too pat and unbelievable.
Benoit (Attal) and Pierre (Charles Berling) are friends since grade school. Pierre is the dominant one of the pair -- handsome, outgoing, good with girls -- and the introverted Benoit is the sidekick. But then the tables are turned. Pierre gets in trouble at work and loses his job. Benoit, responding to a personals ad, finds true love in Marie (Gainsbourg), an equally shy and insecure wallflower, and soon they marry. Suddenly Benoit is the friend whose life is going well.
Pierre, as if he can't stand Benoit's happiness, decides that he loves Marie and must have her. He launches an obsessive campaign to woo her. She protests but by not taking steps to stop it (such as telling her husband about it) she invites further attention. Inevitably, and unbelievably, she falls for this best friend/stalker. Even Benoit seems to be aware of what's happening, but unable to articulate his feelings to Marie or Pierre he seems helpless to prevent it, and resigned to his fate. The scene in which Benoit finally confronts Marie and Pierre is powerful. Gainsbourg, an immensely appealing actress if not a classic beauty, conveys great emotion without uttering a word.
(POSSIBLE SPOILER) Up to that point it is a very good movie. Then it flashes forward to New Year's Day, 2000, and the beach where the trio, during earlier, happier, times promised to meet and celebrate the turn of the century. Marie has dumped poor Benoit and, while still technically married to him, taken up with Pierre. They engage in mundane chitchat. It appears that they are no longer close but still friendly. She makes a little speech about being with the only two men she ever loved. What baloney! She can't have it both ways. Marie and Pierre, wife and best friend, betrayed Benoit. She chose Pierre over her husband. She and Pierre acted in ways to humiliate Benoit. The idea that he would remain civil, let alone friendly, with the treacherous pair stretches credulity too far. And that's where the movie leaves it -- nowhere. As nicely done as the movie is to that point it leaves the viewer feeling empty, frustrated and cheated, much as Benoit must have felt.
Benoit (Attal) and Pierre (Charles Berling) are friends since grade school. Pierre is the dominant one of the pair -- handsome, outgoing, good with girls -- and the introverted Benoit is the sidekick. But then the tables are turned. Pierre gets in trouble at work and loses his job. Benoit, responding to a personals ad, finds true love in Marie (Gainsbourg), an equally shy and insecure wallflower, and soon they marry. Suddenly Benoit is the friend whose life is going well.
Pierre, as if he can't stand Benoit's happiness, decides that he loves Marie and must have her. He launches an obsessive campaign to woo her. She protests but by not taking steps to stop it (such as telling her husband about it) she invites further attention. Inevitably, and unbelievably, she falls for this best friend/stalker. Even Benoit seems to be aware of what's happening, but unable to articulate his feelings to Marie or Pierre he seems helpless to prevent it, and resigned to his fate. The scene in which Benoit finally confronts Marie and Pierre is powerful. Gainsbourg, an immensely appealing actress if not a classic beauty, conveys great emotion without uttering a word.
(POSSIBLE SPOILER) Up to that point it is a very good movie. Then it flashes forward to New Year's Day, 2000, and the beach where the trio, during earlier, happier, times promised to meet and celebrate the turn of the century. Marie has dumped poor Benoit and, while still technically married to him, taken up with Pierre. They engage in mundane chitchat. It appears that they are no longer close but still friendly. She makes a little speech about being with the only two men she ever loved. What baloney! She can't have it both ways. Marie and Pierre, wife and best friend, betrayed Benoit. She chose Pierre over her husband. She and Pierre acted in ways to humiliate Benoit. The idea that he would remain civil, let alone friendly, with the treacherous pair stretches credulity too far. And that's where the movie leaves it -- nowhere. As nicely done as the movie is to that point it leaves the viewer feeling empty, frustrated and cheated, much as Benoit must have felt.