Versailles Rive-Gauche (1992)
Directed by Bruno Podalydès

Film Review

Bruno Podalydès made a highly promising start to his filmmaking career with this quirky little comedy, the first instalment in a loose trilogy of films involving the three train strains at Versailles - the other two being: Dieu seul me voit (Versailles-Chantiers) (1998) and Bancs publics (Versailles Rive-Droite) (2008).  Despite having next to no money to make the film (most of the cast and crew lent their services for free), Podalydès crafts a polished and likeably idiosyncratic piece of cinema which is both entertaining and horribly true to life.  In both its style and subject matter, Versailles Rive-Gauche feels oddly like a Nouvelle Vague parody of a Woody Allen film, a whimsical delight whichever way you look at it.

Podalydès' brother Denis is perfect for the part of the Tintin-obsessed neurotic who resembles a Gallic version of Mr Bean; not only is he funny (without even seeming to try), he compels us to sympathise with his character's tragic plight as his carefully planned evening of microwave Moussaka for two and Hergé-themed conversation is railroaded by all his friends and acquaintances, just because he wasn't brave enough to flush the lavatory.  Denis Podalydès, along with several other actors in this film - Isabelle Candelier, Philippe Uchan, Michel Vuillermoz, etc. - would feature in many of the director's subsequent films and became familiar faces in French cinema.  A commercial and critical success, Versailles Rive-Gauche is one of Bruno Podalydès' most popular films and scooped several prestigious awards, including the Best Short Film César in 1993.  The director followed this up with another quirky short, Voilà (1994), before making his feature debut with Dieu seul me voit.

Film Synopsis

Arnaud is determined to make a good impression on his new girlfriend Claire.  He has spent hours tidying his tiny apartment on the rue Carnot in Versailles and now everything is prepared for the most perfect of evenings.  There is not a speck of dust anywhere and his Tintin posters are all perfectly aligned.  But, just before his lady friend is about to show up, he gets the sudden urge to go to the little boy's room.  Unable to contain himself, Arnaud nips into the toilet and has barely completed the necessary operation before the doorbell rings.  The young man is sent into a panic.  He dare not flush the toilet, as this will undoubtedly get the romantic encounter off to a bad start.

What kind of man would Claire think him, having a bowel movement just before they are due to meet and exchange intimacies?  No, Arnaud decides it is far safer to leave the toilet unflushed.  It will smell a bit, but so long as he can keep Claire away from the offending room all should be well.  Taking care not to arouse his girlfriend's suspicion, Arnaud gently eases himself out of the little cubicle and goes to greet his guest, looking about as innocent as a psychopathic schoolboy who has just strangled a dozen kittens and kicked their mangled remains under the floorboards.  The tête-à-tête gets off to a reasonably promising start, but then Claire has to ruin it all by asking to use the toilet.

There is nothing that Arnaud dreaded more than this.  In fact, he has made it his chief goal in life that, on no account, should this charming creature be allowed anywhere near his soiled private convenience.  The embarrassment would kill him and the relationship, such as it is, would be dead within microseconds.  Luckily, Arnaud has a brother he can always count on to help him out of a tight spot, so he gets on to him at once and asks him to come to his rescue.  The plan that the two men concoct to save the evening naturally goes completely awry and Arnaud's dreams for a quiet romantic evening for two end up being flushed down the pan along with his other doings...