Le Gout Des Autres Details

Agnès Jaoui makes her directorial debut with this astute comedy of socio-cultural manners, which she wrote with co-star Jean-Pierre Bacri. A Woody Allenesque air pervades proceedings, as we follow the efforts of Bacri's philistinic businessman to impress amateur actress Anne Alvaro — a plot in a similar vein to Small-Time Crooks. But the personal touch evident in Un Air de Famille and On Connait le Chanson (which she co-wrote) ensures it retains a Gallic identity. The subplots involving a drug-dealing barmaid and a designer-dominated wife lack focus, but the odd coupling of Bacri and Alvaro is delightful and, doubtless, helped the film garner a best foreign film Oscar nomination and a raft of domestic awards.

"...Enjoyably nimble....Engrossing thanks both to the quality of the ensemble performances and the sympathy the film-makers extend to their credibly human characters..."