A lot of talk about the weather in the region of France where this story takes place, lead us to believe the film will a continuous deluge, but alas, most of the rain happens at the end of this tale about the making of a documentary that was not meant to be.
Karim, a front desk clerk from a local hotel, and an aspiring film maker, decides to make a documentary about Agathe Villanova, a politician, to get her angle on a lot of subjects where her experience will prove well worth telling. For this project he enlists Michel Ronsard, who has directed his own documentaries. Their two man team could not be more different. Agathe's views on racism and sexism are what Karim is trying to capture as the essence for the film.
Agathe, who has come to spend some time with her sister Florence in this part of the Provance, where the family lived. Agathe has come to help her sister sort out things after the death of their mother. What Agathe is not counting is her sister's resentment because she has gone to become somewhat notorious and a minor celebrity. Florence herself is involved with Michel in a secret liaison no one suspects. The family reunion turns out to be an occasion for rehashing the past.
This has been one of the three films by its director, and star, Agnes Jaoui, we have found less involving. Basically, it is a rambling film that goes nowhere, nor does it solve any of the tensions between the two sisters, or even gets the documentary done because of the constant interruptions experienced in the shooting. Ms. Jaoui, who also acts in all her films, is an enigma in this one. What she has accomplish is making a better movie than it should have been in the way uses music to paraphrase each sequence, by her use of the excellent music selections that perhaps gives the viewer hope that what will follow will be better. There is a recurring motif sung by the King Singers of Schubert's "Der Goldenfahrer" that haunts the viewer's mind long after the film is over. Ms. Jaoui also selected music from Vivaldi, Nina Simone, and even a Cuban carnival ensemble that adds another layer to the picture.
Jean-Pierre Bacri, the director's collaborator and former husband, makes a good case for Michel Rosand, a documentary maker that shows he has no clue in how to bring the project to the screen, or even has any affinity with the son he is supposed to be entertaining, but who begs to go away with a friend. Jamel Debbouze is seen as Karim. Pascalle Arbillot is Florence and Mimouna Hadji seems to be a natural in her take of the loyal servant.
"Parlez-moi de la pluie" is a mildly amusing comedy.
Karim, a front desk clerk from a local hotel, and an aspiring film maker, decides to make a documentary about Agathe Villanova, a politician, to get her angle on a lot of subjects where her experience will prove well worth telling. For this project he enlists Michel Ronsard, who has directed his own documentaries. Their two man team could not be more different. Agathe's views on racism and sexism are what Karim is trying to capture as the essence for the film.
Agathe, who has come to spend some time with her sister Florence in this part of the Provance, where the family lived. Agathe has come to help her sister sort out things after the death of their mother. What Agathe is not counting is her sister's resentment because she has gone to become somewhat notorious and a minor celebrity. Florence herself is involved with Michel in a secret liaison no one suspects. The family reunion turns out to be an occasion for rehashing the past.
This has been one of the three films by its director, and star, Agnes Jaoui, we have found less involving. Basically, it is a rambling film that goes nowhere, nor does it solve any of the tensions between the two sisters, or even gets the documentary done because of the constant interruptions experienced in the shooting. Ms. Jaoui, who also acts in all her films, is an enigma in this one. What she has accomplish is making a better movie than it should have been in the way uses music to paraphrase each sequence, by her use of the excellent music selections that perhaps gives the viewer hope that what will follow will be better. There is a recurring motif sung by the King Singers of Schubert's "Der Goldenfahrer" that haunts the viewer's mind long after the film is over. Ms. Jaoui also selected music from Vivaldi, Nina Simone, and even a Cuban carnival ensemble that adds another layer to the picture.
Jean-Pierre Bacri, the director's collaborator and former husband, makes a good case for Michel Rosand, a documentary maker that shows he has no clue in how to bring the project to the screen, or even has any affinity with the son he is supposed to be entertaining, but who begs to go away with a friend. Jamel Debbouze is seen as Karim. Pascalle Arbillot is Florence and Mimouna Hadji seems to be a natural in her take of the loyal servant.
"Parlez-moi de la pluie" is a mildly amusing comedy.