Look at Me on DVD (2004)

Big fat Greek wedding with a reality check....

Pummzie from London , 30/01/2005

Remember 'my big fat greek wedding'? This starts off feeling a little like that film but you soon realise that although this features a 'large' girl with self-esteem issues, the difference is that this has real heart and will not be the sort of film that will give you a cliched tying up of all strings into a happy smiling feel-good parcel (plus it's in French!) The characters, some outwardly perfect, some clearly wishing that they could don someone else's (anyone else's) skin, bump into one another without really interacting and everyone cries out to be noticed. It is an honest and discreet portayal of speaking without listening and loving without liking. In a very European way, not a lot happens but emotionally you come a long way by the end credits.

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Fathers and daughters

taniasfilms from London , 10/04/2005

As I watched this film I was convinced it had to be directed by a woman, so brilliantly was the essence of male female relationships captured in the script and performances. It's nuances completely hooked me in from beginning to end. It also has a subtle humour running throughout.

It tells the story of a famous writer and his plump, struggling daughter who constantly vies for his love and attention. Everyone adores him and feeds his ego, whilst those closest to him suffer, until rebellion sets in. I highly recommend it as intelligent entertaining viewing. This film is like a tonic, it makes you feel good after watching it.

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Abuse of influence

William Johnson from leamington , 20/05/2005

A slow starting movie that makes Hollywood oriented people like me wonder just what is going on. Slowly light begins to dawn - this is not Hollywood this is France, the movie is not plot driven but character driven.

The central figure is a fat young girl (Marilou Berry) with singing ambitions and a massive inferiority complex. Nobody likes her until they find out that her dad (Jean-Pierre Bacri) is an author with big influence in the literary and publishing world. Then they pretend they love her ? but just to get to her dad. The only one who doesn?t try to take advantage of her is her young and sexy stepmother (Virginie Desarnaut) who, ironically, she spurns.

The whole film turns around the idea of power and its abuse - from taxi drivers who browbeat their female passengers to self obsessed authors who take advantage of everyone they come across, including their children. The movie is filled with great scenes one of the most memorable being the one in the church when the great author walks out on his daughter?s first singing performance just to make a phone call.

It?s a great movie marred once by the lack of an explanation of why people are so cruel even to the ones they are supposed to love and second by its soft ending.

Marilou Berry turns in a superb performance as does the actress/director, Agnes Jaoui who always convinces that she has second thoughts about the ethics of what she is doing.

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Witty and irascible.

oztvc from Whitstable , 26/04/2005

Fully deserving of its Cannes Film Festival acolade for it's screenplay this film explores the relationships around Etienne, a successful Parisien writer and publisher. He's aggressive, antagonistic, argumentative and seemingly uncaring of the people around him whether they are sucking up to him to further their career or demanding his attention or love.

A great ensemble piece directed by a husband and wife team who also star in the film. Also worth checking out is their first film as a couple; Le Goût des Autres. Marilou Berry, who plays his daughter Lolita, steals the show. Recommended.

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french frustrations...

A customer from Highbury, London , 24/05/2005

Very funny, very French... Anyone whose parents have ever wound them up will enjoy all the family tension in this beautifully crafted study of how we love and hurt each other. Sometimes the subtitles were slightly off the mark, but that's a small price to pay for a truly enjoyable film!

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A thought look at the problems of fame

milnerv from Dorset , 02/04/2005

This film is for those who appreciate the style of French films that say everything and do very little. It portrays the effects of fame on famous personality’s partners and children, and the painful changes that occur during the transition from obscurity to fame. I found all the principal actors very good, and the “show don’t tell” approach prevents the long soul searching dialogues that can occur in such films.

The problems of the plain plump daughter Lolita who is painfully aware of her lack of attraction and who has low personal esteem feeling people only use her as a means of access to her famous novelist father are extremely well portrayed by Marilou Berry and the careful choice of viewpoints in the filming.

For those who like a thoughtful film that allows you to get inside the characters.

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