Really a two-hander, and two-handkerchiefer, between two women. The tense young Marianne has much to resolve over her childhood, the loss of her parents, and her inability to retain a worthwhile man. The mature Béatrice, her father's mistress, has achieved serenity and may have enjoyed it all along. The two actresses inhabit their roles perfectly. Jeanne Balibar, quirky, nervy, and needy under short dark hair, plays a talented misfit who may never achieve stable partnerships. Bulle Ogier, as a relic of the sixties with straight blonde hair and a very silly hat, has the human warmth and wisdom we would all like to share. With sly humour, lessons in life are quietly imparted.
Review of Toutes ces belles promesses
