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Crustacés et coquillages
2005 Comedy / Musical / Romance
Review
Anyone who enjoyed the eminently likeable 2000 film Drôle
de Felix will not be disappointed by this similarly
thoughtful sex comedy from the same director-writing team,
Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau. With some clever writing
and direction, Crustacés et
coquillages avoids the usual tired clichés and situations
that pollute many similar films and feels like a real breath of fresh
air, taking a witty and incisive look at sexual ambiguity in an era
when all taboos are now well and truly taboo. The film is fun but it is also
sincere, with believable, well-drawn characters fighting their way
through situations that we can all recognise. It combines the
poetry of Rohmer, the emotional realism of Doillon and the magic of
Demy, making a dish that is both savoury and satisfying.All that a well-written and well-directed film needs to be a great film is a great cast, and Crustacés et coquillages certainly does not fall down in this department. Valeria Bruni Tedeschi is the ideal choice for the part of Béatrix, a flighty, fully liberated idealist who thinks she can have her cake and eat it when it comes to having an extra-marital affair – not a realistic proposition when the mystery lover turns out to have the sexual appetite that a field of nookie-mad rabbits would be hard pressed to match. As the sexually muddled Marc, Gilbert Melki gives a well-judged and sympathetic performance that maintains a sense of realism when the world around him (and inside him) takes on the character of a badly scripted farce. Jean-Marc Barr is surprisingly convincing in the part of Didier – he has seldom been this good since his memorable performance in Luc Besson’s Le Grand bleu (1988). It is worth noting that there are also some fine contributions from the supporting cast, including Edouard Collin making a respectable film début. It is a perfect collection of ingredients – for a truly sumptuous repast. © James Travers 2008 Write a review for this film...User Comments
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Director:
Olivier Ducastel, Jacques Martineau
Starring: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Gilbert Melki , Jean-Marc Barr, Jacques Bonnaffé, Edouard Collin Synopsis
One year, 40-something Marc decides to spend his long summer holiday in the region
of the South of France where he grew up. He brings with him his
loving wife Béatrix and his two troublesome adolescent
offspring, Charly and Laura. The latter soon disappears off
to Portugal with her biker boyfriend, and her place is taken by Martin,
a friend of Charly. Béatrix immediately jumps to the
conclusion that her son Charly is gay and tells Marc, who appears
perturbed by this revelation. In truth, Charly is adamant that he
is not gay, much to the chagrin of Martin who (a) is gay and (b) is
madly attracted to Charly. Béatrix’s attentions are soon
switched from her son’s sexuality to her own feminine wants when her
secret lover Mathieu suddenly appears, along with his inexhaustible
libido. Oblivious to his wife’s infidelity, Marc has a
comparatively uneventful holiday, until his former gay lover Didier
springs out of nowhere and rekindles an old flame...
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