Au secours, j'ai trente ans! (2004)
Directed by Marie-Anne Chazel

Film Review

Marie-Anne Chazel had a successful career as a comedy-actress behind her by the time she decided to make her directorial debut with this lightweight romantic comedy.   Although the film isn't going to win any awards for originality, it is fairly entertaining, with some engaging performances from an attractive cast.  The film's beginning is an instant turn-off, resembling a hurried reprise of half a dozen previous episodes in a television serial (complete with irritating voice over).   This probably isn't the most effective way of introducing characters to an audience, but thereafter the film settles down into the conventional comedy-drama routine and gets better as the narrative unfolds.  It's a pity that the film is so riddled with clichés and the characterisation is so shallow, because, stylistically, the second half of the film is rather attractive and, in some places, quite touching.  It could be much better, but it's still an appealing little film.

Film Synopsis

Yann, Tara and Kathy have been the best of friends since they were at school together.  Now that they are all in their thirties it is time for them to re-evaluate their lives.  Of the three, Yann is the most satisfied.  He has settled down and is perfectly contented with his gay partner Alfredo.  Tara, by contrast, experiences nothing but unending misery in her couple with Thomas, a mean and selfish teacher.  Kathy, meanwhile, is reluctant to get involved with any man, even though a colleague of hers, Romain, is clearly interested in her.  On learning that he has a life-threatening cancer, Yann puts pressure on his two childhood friends to sort themselves out.  Tara must leave the man she has grown to despite and Kathy must overcome her hang-ups about men.  Easier said than done...