Le paradis des bêtes

"Le Paradis Des Bêtes " is a pet shop which Dominique runs with his sister Stephane .

Dominique is an immature man whose marriage to Cathy is on the rocks :violent rows become soon unbearable for the wife.

After leaving a beaten Cathy on the road,he takes his children to Switzerland in a posh ski resort ,where he tries to create a new paradise :they have their photograph taken with a giant "rabbit",they play Monopoly .Dominique is often pretending it's a big game (the chase ,with the police hot on their heels) or that in the street enemies are imaginary people (such as Cruella).But his sister ,an embittered spinster who has probably always dominated him,wants them back to reality :her cruelty knows no bounds then as she mistreats her niece,becoming the witch ,or Cruella ,in the fairy tale .The part of the mother is a little underwritten,but the director is more interested in the love/hate Relationship between the dad and the kids.

All in all,the whole "adventure" was perhaps only a ride on a merry-go -round (the last scene being symbolic,which echoes to the very first scene) , and when the ride is over ,you just have to let it go.

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"Un week-end Sur Deux" Nicole Garcia,1990

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"L'Adversaire" Nicole Garcia ,2002