Trop Belle Pour Toi on DVD (1989)

A Depardieu failure

Clerico from Dunbar [Highly rated reviewer] , 19/01/2005

Lovers of French cinema will be disappointed with this pretentious and somewhat frivolous film that leaves the viewer asking, 'So what?'

The trouble is, we don't care about any of the characters. Bernard is a confused and empty fool; his wife Florence is a tempting but trivial beauty; Colette, the temp, has not a lot going for her either.

The music tries to raise the game a little by hinting at the drama of it all; instead it just melodramatises a poor plot whose disjointedness is pointless. Some shifts of viewpoint and time-jumps (eg Usual Suspects) work brilliantly; here, the viewer is left bemused.

There are four or five good moments in the film, but long periods of drowsy monologue and affected dialogue in between.

The jury's out on this film, but those on the pro side have their work cut out, really. If you don't care what happens to the characters in a drama, the writers have failed.

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Trop Belle Pour Toi? Non!

RustyT from Dorset , 08/02/2004

Before I put pen to paper on this, I had to check elsewhere to make sure I hadn't missed something. It was to do with people appearing in scenes they couldn't possibly be in. More about that later.

This is essentially a triangle plot: a successful car salesman (Bernard) has a beautiful wife and home, nice kids to match. He falls for the temp, (Colette) an 'ordinary' married woman. As a result, their lives are turned upside down. Throughout, locations are beautifully composed and filmed; the musical score (nearly all by Schubert) is credited prominently. I loved this musical mainframe, though it may not be to everyone's taste. The staple plot has been enhanced in a unique way by a brilliant director.

French films tend to be altogether more thought-provoking than their anglo-saxon neighbours. You have to keep your wits about you as actualité becomes fantasy, and you can't always tell whose fantasy. For example the newly bedded temp interrupts the wife's wedding speech, which had happened ten years before.

One gripe: we are told that Colette is a little bit obese, slobbish, plain. Believe it: she's not. She's as good to look at as Florence, the wife.

There is a feelgood factor about this film, though in the end, as in so many triangle plots, there is a dark side as well.

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Sometimes confusing but very enjoyable nonetheless

Michael McGhie from Bury, Lancashire. , 03/10/2004

The plot is by no means easy to follow; the events are not always in the 'right' order but you have here an enjoyable, very French discourse on love. The actors, especially Gerard Depardieu, are first rate and the supposedly rather dowdy secretary, Josiane Balasko, is someone I quickly warmed to. She provides an effective contrast to the sophisticated and beautiful Carole Bouquet. The music greatly enhances this film.

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MERDE!

david campbell from scotland , 21/01/2005

if you love french cinema leave it!

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Didnt get it

A customer from Glos , 05/06/2005

I just never got into this film. I found it very boring and so disjointed. Perhaps I`ll try again some other time

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MERDE!

david campbell from scotland , 21/01/2005

if you love french cinema leave it!

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