It seems that the other user confounded this movie with another one. Well, he is American after all, maybe he doesn't know all the french films as I do. Anyway he is right when he says this is a good film. The tale of a lonely man who, one day, takes his phone and dials one number by chance. And the number is a lonely wife's too. After several calls they decide at last to meet. And from this point, this movie becomes riveting at the most. Very smart, I would say terrific as a very unusual plot between the two characters - Jean-Pierre Marielle and Annie Girardot - who also give us very gripping sequences. A very freshening film, cooling story I am not used to. Annie Girardot and Marielle at their very best. A little masterpiece written for the screen by Francis Weber.
3 Reviews
Boring depressed passive characters
vostf19 March 2022
I had hoped that the two great actors could somewhat shine in whichever flawed movie. Hell no, you can have the best casting and still make a terrible movie.
I cannot understand how the seasoned producer did this movie. I guess she was in love with the original book, bought the rights, hired Francis Veber to adapt it for a hefty sum and then couldn't let go. Maybe words on paper had a subtle black irony turn that would never make its way into moving pictures.
It starts very bad with this ugly shot of a depressed Marielle alone in his grim flat, with his voice-over narration that only deepens the abysmally boring scene. Then it is only about passive characters bumping more or less directly into each other. Try as I might I could barely watch this for over an hour. I surmise the last 20 minutes secure some kind of happy ending: the build-up was so exhausting that I definitely don't want any of it.
I cannot understand how the seasoned producer did this movie. I guess she was in love with the original book, bought the rights, hired Francis Veber to adapt it for a hefty sum and then couldn't let go. Maybe words on paper had a subtle black irony turn that would never make its way into moving pictures.
It starts very bad with this ugly shot of a depressed Marielle alone in his grim flat, with his voice-over narration that only deepens the abysmally boring scene. Then it is only about passive characters bumping more or less directly into each other. Try as I might I could barely watch this for over an hour. I surmise the last 20 minutes secure some kind of happy ending: the build-up was so exhausting that I definitely don't want any of it.
Mildly amusing
buckaroobanzai5025 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The title of my review suggests my opinion of the film. Although to be fair, my french is a bit rusty but I got the gist of it all. I think you have to understand the French social mores of the '70s a bit, as it's quite a dated movie. However, I did like the scenes where the salesman tells his potential customers his problems, in order to make them buy his wares.
It was also quite nice to see a very young, and very sexy Jane Birkin.
The married Jean Pierre-Marielle, always looks funny whenever he appears in his furry overcoat. And his girlfriend on-the-side, who habitually tries to commit suicide, finally succeeds in the end. If memory serves, she dies in a car accident, after three previous attempts to blow herself up with a gas cooker. All this after a saucy sex session in a hotel with the aforementioned salesman, played by Jean Carmet.
There is an appearance by Jean Rochefort, who seems to always have the same laconic expression on his face, in all his movies. He reminds me of a French Robert Mitchum.
It was also quite nice to see a very young, and very sexy Jane Birkin.
The married Jean Pierre-Marielle, always looks funny whenever he appears in his furry overcoat. And his girlfriend on-the-side, who habitually tries to commit suicide, finally succeeds in the end. If memory serves, she dies in a car accident, after three previous attempts to blow herself up with a gas cooker. All this after a saucy sex session in a hotel with the aforementioned salesman, played by Jean Carmet.
There is an appearance by Jean Rochefort, who seems to always have the same laconic expression on his face, in all his movies. He reminds me of a French Robert Mitchum.
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