L'Oncle Charles (2012)
Directed by Étienne Chatiliez

Comedy

Film Synopsis

In his career as a businessman, Charles Doumeng has amassed a huge personal fortune, but, alas, he has no one to bequeath it to!  This fact only occurs to him when, at the age of sixty, he is diagnosed with a terminal illness.  Knowing that he only has a few weeks left to live, Charles hastily sets about finding his nearest surviving relative - his sister whom he has not seen for fifty years. The fact that he is currently settled in New Zealand and his sister still lives in France doesn't exactly facilitate matters.  His only recourse is to put a notice in the French newspapers and hope that his sister, or someone known to her, will see it and get in touch.  As luck would have it, Doumeng's notice is spotted - but not by his sister.  The person in question is 30-something Corinne, a woman who lives in the village of Mauprivez not far from Nantes and is in desperate need of money.

Seeing an easy way to earn herself some cash, Corinne immediately sets out to find Doumeng's missing sister, but soon realises the task is futile.  Then she has another idea.  Why not pass herself off as the desperately sought after relative?  When he receives a reply to his ad, Charles is naturally delighted that he has finally been able to make contact with his family.  But then events take an unexpected turn for everyone when the millionaire discovers his diagnosis was in error.  Far from being at death's door, he is as fit as any man of his age.  Unable to believe his good fortune, Charles makes up his mind there and then to head back to France and get to know the family he has completely lost sight of.  This is where the fun begins...
© James Travers
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Film Credits

  • Director: Étienne Chatiliez
  • Script: Florence Quentin (dialogue)
  • Cinematographer: Yves Angelo
  • Music: Jean-Michel Bernard
  • Cast: Eddy Mitchell (Charles), Alexandra Lamy (Louise), Valérie Bonneton (Corinne), Arnaud Ducret (José), Sophie de Furst (Élodie), Thomas Solivéres (Kevin), Cléo Revel (Rosalinde), Madeleine Revel (Rosalinde), Bruno Georis (Baudoin, le valet), Joe Sheridan (Dr Duncan), Raphaëline Goupilleau (Léonie), Patrick Bouchitey (Pierre, le voisin), Lawrence Makoare (Ratu), Patricia Vichmann (Rina), Michael Saccente (Dr Clifford), Jacqueline Jehanneuf (Soeur Marie-Josèphe), Dominique Bernardi (Soeur Lucie), Florence Quentin (Louise Radiguet), François Perrin (Monsieur Maxime), Brigitte Lo Cicero (Employée étude)
  • Country: France
  • Language: French
  • Support: Color
  • Runtime: 98 min

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