christian_fournier

The scenery is gorgeous. The plot is not bad, but nigh implausible at times. What disturbs me is the much overscripted intrication between family and police business: this may be deliberate (many police procedurals do it with good effect), but in that case it does not work. The mother-vs-daughter, wife-vs-ex-husband dialogues are rife with screams (inside the police station...) and the exes are almost part of the police investigation. Too much is too much.

In spite of this, the film is quite watchable. The actors and the scenery almost salvage the script! Alexandra Vandernoot is gorgeous and her 'ex-husband' (Antoine Dulery) is a natural for the role. 6/10 __ .

Let's face it: the film has a slow start and the pace is leisurely. But the psychological portraits are finely chiseled, and this microcosm of a catering outfit is endearing. Many of the foibles (& strengths) of French society are painted with a light touch, up to and including the marriage customs of up and coming -but not quite upper class- wealthy patrons. Some of the characters appear a bit exaggerated, but after all they may well have been painted from real-life models.

I can understand why critics on both sides of the Pond have snubbed this movie; but I believe it to be quite watchable, with many episodes which are funny or touching. My vote is 7/10.