There are many levels of emotional drama that are much more common in French cinema than in the United States. While American moviegoers tend to demand action and fast-paced dialogue in their films, French moviegoers are much more comfortable with films that explore the ways people deal with relationships, especially when they also poke a little fun at society.
This particular film does both in a way that is totally French, and simply cannot be understood in an American context. It is serious and yet it is light. Readjusting to life after serving a term in prison which he felt he did not deserve, a French executive mocks conventions even as he struggles with finding himself.
It's a good-natured kind of French cynicism that delights and annoys at the same time. From mocking people in a restaurant to wondering what's up at work to an innocent flirtation with a beautiful young woman, the focus is on the emotions, with a depth seldom found in American films.
Enjoyable for those who are tired of more of the same.
This particular film does both in a way that is totally French, and simply cannot be understood in an American context. It is serious and yet it is light. Readjusting to life after serving a term in prison which he felt he did not deserve, a French executive mocks conventions even as he struggles with finding himself.
It's a good-natured kind of French cynicism that delights and annoys at the same time. From mocking people in a restaurant to wondering what's up at work to an innocent flirtation with a beautiful young woman, the focus is on the emotions, with a depth seldom found in American films.
Enjoyable for those who are tired of more of the same.